Anolis agassizi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anolis agassizi |
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Anolis
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agassizi
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The Agassiz's anole (Anolis agassizi) is a special type of lizard. It belongs to the family called Dactyloidae. This lizard lives only on Malpelo Island, which is part of Colombia. This means it is endemic to that one island.
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What's in a Name?
The name agassizi was given to this lizard to honor Alexander Agassiz. He was an American zoologist and also an engineer who worked in mining.
Where They Live
Agassiz's anoles like to live in wet, rocky places. You can find them from sea level up to about 376 meters (1,234 feet) high.
What They Look Like
Male Agassiz's anoles are usually bigger than females. Males can grow to be about 89 to 114 millimeters (3.5 to 4.5 inches) long from their snout to the base of their tail. Females are a bit smaller, reaching about 79 to 84 millimeters (3.1 to 3.3 inches) long.
Many females and some males have spotted heads. They are usually grey-brown in color. Other males grow larger and have a black crest, which is a raised part, on their heads. Scientists are still trying to understand why some males look different.
How They Live
Unlike some other anoles, Agassiz's anoles are not very territorial. This means they often share places to rest and food without fighting. Their living areas can even overlap with each other.
Malpelo Island does not have many plants. Because of this, the anoles mainly eat insects, especially beetles. They might also eat bird eggs. This is because many birds, like boobies, build their nests on the island. The anoles seem to be attracted to the color orange, which could be a clue about their diet.
Their main predator is another lizard called Diploglossus millepunctatus.
How They Have Babies
Agassiz's anoles lay eggs. This way of having babies is called oviparous.
See also
In Spanish: Lagartija de Malpelo para niños
