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

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

Think of the bright elastic throats of anole lizards, the Fabergé abdomens of peacock spiders and the curling, iridescent, ludicrously long feathers of birds-of-paradise.

From New York Times • Jan. 9, 2019

As it turns out, anole species that use broader surfaces to get around have evolved longer legs compared with their narrow-substrate counterparts.

From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2017

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.