anole

American  

[uh-noh-lee] / əˈnoʊ li /

noun

1. any of numerous chiefly insectivorous New World lizards of the genus Anolis, related to the iguana, that have the ability to change the color of their skin among a wide range of green and brown shades.

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anole British  

/ əˈnəʊl /

noun

1. Also called: American chameleon.  any small arboreal tropical American insectivorous lizards of the genus Anolis, such as A. carolinensis ( green anole ): family Iguanidae (iguanas). They are able to change the colour of their skin

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Etymology

Origin of anole

1895–1900; variant of anoli < Carib

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

anole

Longer dives, however, mean that it's less likely for a predator to be waiting once the anole returns to the surface.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 5, 2024

Similarly, anole lizards living in Puerto Rico’s urban areas grew longer limbs than their counterparts out in the forests, according to a 2016 study.

From National Geographic ● Feb. 15, 2024

Dr. Donihue and his colleagues then zoomed out, using high-resolution photos from natural history collections to perform the digital equivalent of a sneaker-fitting for 188 different anole species.

From New York Times ● Apr. 27, 2020

Some anole species have altogether disappeared from the interior forest.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 15, 2018

The streaked brown dorsum, combined with the lizards' habit of pressing the body against the trunks of trees, make this anole especially difficult to see.

From Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala by Duellman, William E.