Anolis pulchellus Duméril & Bibron, 1837

Common Names and Taxonomy

Anolis pulchellus, commonly called the Puerto Rican anole, Puerto Rican bush anole, snake anole, or sharp-mouthed lizard, is a small species of anole lizard belonging to the family Dactyloidae.

Geographic Distribution

This species is one of the most common lizards found in Puerto Rico, and is also native to Vieques, Culebra, and the Virgin Islands excluding St. Croix.

Snout-to-Vent Length

The sharp-mouthed lizard has an approximate snout-to-vent length of 35 to 43 mm, or 1.4 to 1.7 inches.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism

It is typically yellow-brown in overall color; males of the species have a purple dewlap that fades to crimson near the dewlap's tip.

Adaptive Radiation Research Context

Anole lizards native to the Greater Antilles have been heavily studied, as they form a notable case of adaptive radiation.

Greater Antilles Anole Relatedness

In this group, species are more closely related to other species that share the same island than to anole species living on adjacent islands.

Ecomorph Convergent Evolution

Even though species divergence happened independently on each individual island, the same set of ecomorphs (habitat specialists) have evolved on every island.

Ecomorph Classification and Habitat

Anolis pulchellus is classified as a grass-bush anole, and is primarily found living in bushes and grass.