Polychrus marmoratus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Polychrus marmoratus
Polychrus marmoratus in Guyana
Scientific classification
Genus:	Polychrus
Species:	marmoratus

The Polychrus marmoratus, also known as the many-colored bush anole or monkey lizard, is a type of bush anole. People often call it the monkey lizard because it moves very slowly. This lizard has many animals that hunt it, including spiders and even primates (like monkeys!).

What Does the Monkey Lizard Look Like?

The Polychrus marmoratus usually weighs about 101 grams. It can grow to be 30 to 50 centimeters long. That's about the length of a school ruler or a bit more!

Its head has a blunt (not pointy) snout and large, smooth scales on top. The scales on its sides and skin are smaller. This lizard is often brown or olive-grey. Sometimes, it has blue or black spots on its head. Its neck might look bluish, and its belly is usually whitish. You can also see five or six "V-shaped" stripes on its back.

How Does It Hunt and Where Does It Live?

This lizard is a hunter! It catches insects by waiting quietly for them to come close. This is called an "ambush method." It hides and then quickly grabs its prey.

The many-colored bush anole lives in semi-deciduous forests. These are forests where some trees lose their leaves during part of the year, but not all of them.

Where Can You Find This Lizard?

You can find the Polychrus marmoratus in several countries in South America, including Guyana, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. It has also been seen in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and even in Florida in the United States.

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