Anolis sabanus Garman, 1887

Nomenclature and Endemic Range

Anolis sabanus, commonly called the Saba anole or Saban anole, is a species of anole lizard endemic to the island of Saba, a Dutch Caribbean municipality located in the Lesser Antilles.

Size

Male Saba anoles measure 29–72 millimeters (1.1–2.8 inches) in snout-to-vent length, while females measure 23–25 millimeters (0.91–0.98 inches).

Shared Coloration and Dewlap Traits

Both sexes have body coloration ranging from pale grey to tan, and both have pale yellow dewlaps with a green or orange tint.

Sexual Dimorphism Markings

Males can be distinguished from females by the additional dark patches that cover their bodies, and females have an extra mid-dorsal stripe that is not found on males.

Diet

This species feeds primarily on small insects.

Population Status Within Range

Though it is an endemic species found nowhere outside of Saba, it is very common within its limited range on the island.

Evolutionary Origin Hypothesis

Biologists hypothesize that this species originated from Saint Croix, and that it is evolutionarily older than the modern anole species found on Sint Eustatius, Saint Martin, and Saint Kitts.

Taxonomic Placement

It is classified within the bimaculatus series, as part of the Guadeloupean-Dominican clade of anoles.

Clade Member Species

Other species in this clade include A. marmoratus of the Guadeloupe Archipelago, A. lividus of Montserrat, A. nubilus of Redonda, and A. oculatus of Dominica.