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That's me on the Spillway Trail at BBSP in 2019. Welcome to my second page showcasing lizards!  I've gathered enough to start putting them on a separate pages. With so many
images gathered, it's best top split off into a new page. I've noticed that most of the lizards on these pages are Anoles, but I can't help that. They're still fascinating, and I'll always
 have a fondness for them, since I had them as pets during my childhood. It was (and is) such a treat to seem them running around wild since I've moved South almost 50 years ago.

09/17/2024 Another day at the waste container, and this time a single Cuban (or Brown) Anole (Anolis sagrei) was hunting. This one was also
running up and down the sides of the container, as the Anolis carolinensis had been doing a couple weeks before.  This short video is made from clips that I
filmed at high frame rate as the Anole worked. These two images clearly show the prominent lines and patterns that distinguish this species from the Green Anoles
-which don't have such prominent markings (although female A. carolinensis sometimes have a single irregular line along their spine).
 

 09/11/2024 I pass the poop container often, and today, there was a Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis); and one of the competitive species of Anole,
 the Cuban  (or Brown) Anole (Anolis sagrei) hunting on the container. Both seemed to be be females, and I only watched them for a short time. Still, it does show that even the
Brown Anoles can hunt on the same surface. Both species have adhesive toe pads, but I have read that the Brown Anoles have less adhesive surface.


 08/24/2024 There are posts that have a waste container, and a supply of dog waste bags. These stations should encourage folks to pick up the waste left
 by their dogs. I noticed that Anoles were often perched on one of the containers, and realized that they were probably hunting flies that were attracted by the waste inside
 the containers. I chose a day that had a few lizards, and watched with a camera. I got the images below and this video is made from clips I got that are edited together.
I filmed from some distance away so I wouldn't scare the Anoles. These are Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis); which are relatively rare in my neighborhood. Most of the
time I see the competitive species of Anole, the Cuban (or Brown) Anole (Anolis sagrei). I see those everywhere.


This male broadcast his presence. The ends of the Anoles' toes are broad pads. In the slowed videos, take note of what the Anoles' toes are doing. While watching the
slowed video, it's easy to forget that these lizards are crawling on vertical surfaces as easily as on horizontal ones.


Even after the lizard changed from vertical to horizontal movement, its toe-pads still cling. The pads are covered with hundreds of tiny hairs that adhere by molecular
attraction. The Anole has to peel its toe tips up to move its feet. In the slowed video, we can see how the Anoles extend just the sticky tip of their tongue before leaping at prey. 


A male and two females (as far as I know) were hunting. The male was larger, with the larger head proportion and showed its large dewlap. The Anoles didn't lunge at every
fly, seeming to weigh their chances of success before trying to catch one. The females' stomachs seemed to bulge, and they may have been carrying eggs. I'm fairly certain
that I've seen the Brown Anoles on this spot, but for the few days I paid closer attention, the Green Anoles seemed to monopolize the container. The last 3 images below
show one of the Brown Anoles at the base of the tree, near that stick--first on one end, then on the other as it moved closer to the container. But, it never got closer while I
was watching. This study (Rapid evolution of a native species following invasion by a congener" 2014, by Stuart, Campbell, et.al.) shows that when Brown Anoles have been
introduced into an environment originally inhabited by Green Anoles, the Green Anoles move to higher parts of the habitat, and also physically change so their toe pads are
larger and contain more setae (very tiny hairs that enable adhesion); or as the study says "larger toepads with more lamellae (adhesive, setae-laden, subdigital scales)". This
change took about 5 years (or "20 generations", in the study).  The video clips show better views of the Green Anoles' toe pads in action. This could be an example of how the
Green Anoles' more efficient climbing gear allowed them to take better advantage of this food source than the Brown Anoles could. I have better views Anoles' toe pads
in action on my page here--Lizards, Page 1.

From Russ Pitman Discovery Center on 07/23/2022   I had some time to walk around the "park" at Russ Pitman Discovery Center this morning. Anoles  have
been relatively scarce since the infamous Texas Freeze of February 2021 (especially in my neighborhood). Since then, I've been able to find at least a few Anoles at Russ Pitman.
There have been a few more Anoles in my neighborhood, both A. Carolinenis and A.  Sagrei (but ONLY a few, compared to the dozens I used to see before the freeze).
On this morning I saw a few lizards scurrying around, but then I noticed this one on a tree-captured by beams of sunlight that made it through the leaf cover. I tried to catch the view as
I experienced it-and these photos turned out best. I feel that it was important that I don't enhance or manipulate the images much--because the sunlight was bright enough to shine through
the lizard! Its tail and legs seemed to glow red--and when it extended its dewlap; that was radiant, too! Light even appeared in the ear openings! These images were the best I could get
before the moment had passed. 
   
 

05/06/2021  I went back to Russ Pitman Park to try to see a female Eastern Screech in one of the nest boxes there. I was lucky!  She was in the box, with her head
filling the hole.   Her mate, the male, was in the same tree as before.  While I was there, I also looked for lizards.  I didn't see very many this time, but here are a few Brown Anoles 
(Anolis sagrei) that were out.  
      

04/20/2021  I've noticed that there are no lizards in my neighborhood. I have been looking for them since we had that hard freeze event.  I expected to see them at least with the return of the 
warmer Spring weather.  But...I haven't seen ANY.  Many of the plants in my neighborhood were killed by the cold. Walls that had been covered by creepers and ivy are bare now.  I believe 
that if the cold reached in deeply enough to kill all that cover, then the lizards hiding in it have also died.  Some of the entries on my lizard page show many images of anoles (mostly Brown 
Anoles) that I saw here.  Now, I don't see any while I'm walking my dog, or at any other time.  Today, I went to Russ Pitman Park to see if I could find any Anoles there.  is a very small (4 acres)
park in Bellaire, Texas.  Even though it is small, it is filled with wildlife!  And, I saw some Anoles there--so I know that some have survived somewhere.  Here are some Brown Anoles
(Anolis sagrei)!  
   
                One on that log.                                     There's the one on the log, closer.
 
              One under that log.                                      There's the one under the log, closer.
I also found some Green Anoles! (Anolis carolinensis)  Here they are!  
  

June 24 2020  (update 08/05/2020)  Like almost everyone these days, I've been staying inside.  I have stopped driving around outside for...recreational purposes.  Even though I've been 
trying to update older material in my domain; I have taken a few pictures around the neighborhood. So...here we go, from a couple months ago.  Brown Anoles (anolis sagrei) have overrun
the vicinity. This means that on most pleasant days, I can see them everywhere. I'll pass 6 or more just by walking to the parking lot.  I noticed this one because it had entered the color 
phase (that's what I call it) where the body is dark, overlayed with patterns of yellow (or white) spots (as opposed to lines or diamond patterns).  Caught in by the sun, this male was beautiful!
 Judge from the pictures below, if you will.  I always try to capture high-speed video of anoles jumping or climbing--but don't succeed very often. I shot video of this one showing his dewlap, 
and then after he moved to another stone, he leapt towards me. I was actually about 8 feet away and shooting by zooming in-so he wasn't actually leaping at me.  I captured his leap, although
he leapt from clarity to blur. I've edited the two clips together into this video clip.

04/23/2020 Like almost everyone these days, I've been staying inside.  I have stopped driving around outside for...recreational purposes. BBSP is just too far away, AND, entrance protocol
to the park has changed dramatically (even for volunteers). So...I haven't been going there.  The parks in the city are generally pretty crowded (when they are open) so I've been staying away
from them, too.  Still, it is possible to have a quiet walk anyway.  Today, I walked around my neighborhood with a camera.  I was looking for anoles (and whatever else I could find.)  Here's 
what I found:

    
 The bright orange dewlap with yellow border helps identify these as Brown Anoles. They often cling head-down on trees and other supports.  Look at the gorgeous crest on this one!
 Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) don't turn from brown to green (and back again) like native American Anoles (Anolis carolinensis). But they can change color somewhat.
    
 Brown Anoles have distinct patterns, but the patterns seem to be variable.   I found two of the Anoles trying to start making little anoles. This is the female after they...finished.
    
I found this one under some plants. Unfortunately it ran off when some people walked by.     These turtles were in a decorative "fountain". Turtles! All the way down!  HA ha ha!
I didn't notice the odd (bluish?) color until I looked at the photos. I was in bright                 These all appear to be Red-eared Sliders (Chrysemis scripta).
sunlight at the time,  I think the odd skin color represents "dead" skin the the anole
has started shedding. It almost appears to be...wearing a face mask.  (!!)

08/12/2019 While at Russ Pitman Park, I was able to film a Green Anole (Anolis Carolinensis).  They are difficult to find.  Some of the information I've read shows that the introduced Brown 
Anoles (or Cuban Anoles (Anolis Sagrei) are displacing our native species.  The native Green Anoles may adapting to this pressure by changing their preferred habitat to a higher elevation.
They are moving to the higher branches of trees and plants. Hopefully, there is enough food to support them up there. Along with this apparent move, their bodies seem to be adapting.  At
least one study shows that anoles that are living higher have more clinging hairs (called setae) on their toes than they used to.  Setae are very tiny hairlike structures with the free end flattened.
These are small enough to stick to objects by molecular attraction (Van der Waals force).  A single seta doesn't generate very much force. But, anoles have thousands on their toes--and 
these generate enough force to allow the lizards to cling to various surfaces.  Since anoles can't turn off this attraction, they have to peel their toes off of surfaces. That is, they pull the hairs 
off in small portions.  Their toes curl up as they lift them.   This video is a demonstration of this toe curling for release, and straightening to cling.  I filmed it at 480 fps, and it playing 16X slower.
The image below is a screen grab from the video.

06/15/2019   I was walking in Russ Pitman Park when I noticed movement in a patch of sunlight on a log about 10 or 15 yards away. When I looked through my binoculars, I discovered
that two Brown Anoles (Anolis Sagrei) where fighting. I started shooting through the camera. I didn't catch the best part of the conflict, but did get some interesting pictures.  Once again,
I noticed that both combatants had patterns of white dots among white lines; and this doesn't appear to be their normal pattern.  Examine the images below to see what I am referring 
to. I think this might be a "battle coloration".  I also shot a short video that is attached to this link. The third images below is a frame-grab from this video.  In that image, the "loser" (it
eventually retreated) is standing with a rear leg elevated. I don't know if that signals submission, but it is a noticeable posture. The submissive moved to the back end of the log and ran off.

   

8/07/2016 While walking along the Spillway Trail, I noticed this Skink sunning on a log. It was about 4 inches long, and about 4 yards away.  Skinks are usually very shy,so I snapped some 
pictures from that distance away using as much zoom as I could. I moved on without disturbing the Skink.  After looking at 2 field guides (Audubon Society Field Guide to North American 
Reptiles and Amphibians; Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America ), the best I can do is guess that this is a 5-lined Skink (Eumeces fasciatus).
 What I thought was best about this brief encounter was that the Skink on the log was at a place on the trail where the water had been about 6 feet deep during most of June. So, either the Skink
floated on the log during that time...or climbed one of the nearby trees. In any case, it was there after the flood.
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7/16/2016 While outside at the Russ Pitman Discovery Center, I noticed something light-colored moving in one of the trees about 20 yards away. It seemed to be moving like a lizard does, so I
carefully walked over-so I wouldn't scare it-until I could see what was going on. It was a Brown Anole shedding its skin. I decided to try to take some pictures. I had trouble focusing my camera 
in the contrasting shaded areas for photos, so I shot more video than photos, and hoped to salvage some useful frames from the video. Most of the images here are cropped from frames 
grabbed from 1920 x 1080 video. To avoid scaring the Anole away, I stayed about 8 feet away and used the optical zoom--without a tripod.  The two images below are from a single photo. I 
happened to catch the Anole as it was pulling off one of its "socks"--the molting from one of it's back feet.
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I was able to see a large portion of the molting process. The Anole pulled bits of its old skin off, and ate them. Occasionally, the Anole extended its dewlap. (As in the RICKUBISCAM picture)
Brown Anoles do this often, and it's hard to tell if they are always extending a challenge to whatever lizards might be around...or everything that might be around. It appeared here that maybe
the Anole was using it to help flex the *old* skin and tear it.I was lucky enough to see the Anole pull off one "sock" and one "glove".  It was interesting to see how it carefully pulled the old skin
off of its toes. Once it got a good grip, it pulled on the skin ("sock" or "glove")  steadily, and slowly. It took about a minute and a half for a single foot to be pulled free of the molted skin. By 
contrast, bits of skin from other parts were pulled off rather quickly. I was impressed by the patience and care showed by the Anole as it cleared
 its toes of the old skin.
  
             LOTS OF OLD SKIN                                  SHOWING ONE "GLOVE"                      GRABBING ONE "SOCK"                               PULLING THE SOCK...

  
         MOST OF THE FOOT IS FREE                                      STEADY, SLOW PULL                                       ALMOST OFF...ALMOST                                      JUST THE TIP IS LEFT
I can think of a few reasons for the care.
For one thing, the old skin has to come free of the hundreds of small hairs on each of the Anole's toe pads. Does the old skin stick the the new ones on the foot? Or, does the old skin have to
be pulled off of all of the new hairs (setae)--that is, does each new hair shed a casing? For another, if the Anole isn't careful, it could tear the old skin, and leave fragments stuck on its toe 
pads, which would impede their clinging function. Also, how would it get small fragments off its toes? The hairs stick through molecular attraction. They can't be "turned off".  Anoles unstick
their toe pads from climbing surfaces by curling their toes backwards to unstick  the hairs a few at a time. And another reason--an Anole is probably strong enough to break its toes. It could 
possibly cause injury to itself by hurrying.

  
       TOENAIL MUST BE STUCK                                      IT'S FREE!                              NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?                NICE, INTACT MOLTED FOOT
This is all guesswork on my part. I haven't found anything that describes Anole molting in great detail. Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) are considered an invasive species, and as I've mentioned
before; since the first time I heard of them being in the Houston area, I have seen them in many places. I see them where I work, I see them where I live. They are competing with the native 
Green Anoles (Anolis Carolinensis) and seem to be driving them out of their preferred habitat. But, something interesting might be happening.  The Green Anoles appear to be migrating *up*!
  That is, they appear to be adapting to live higher in trees (maybe up to 30 feet)--leaving the Brown Anoles to the ground, and lower plants. This study: "Rapid evolution of a native species
following invasion by a congener" Y. E. Stuart,1*†‡ T. S. Campbell,2* P. A. Hohenlohe,3 R. G. Reynolds,1,4 L. J. Revell,4 J. B. Losos seems to indicate that as time passes (and a surprisingly
short time...a few years),the Green Anoles'  foot-pads are becoming better-suited for clinging to the larger smooth surfaces (such as leaves) at the higher altitudes. The Anoles are developing
more clinging surfaces on each toe!  So the home team is still in the game.  To see video of this Anole molting, click the link here.

  
                       CHOMP!                                                                             CHOMP!                                                   AND THERE IT GOES.                                                    CHOMP!

 
              THERE IT GOES.                                  BUT THE JOB ISN'T DONE.  MORE MOLTING TO FINISH.

May 01 2013 (update 07/16/2020)  Like almost everyone these days, I've been staying inside.  I have stopped driving around outside for...recreational purposes. So I'm catching up on old
material.  On May 01, 2013, I visited Russ Pitman Park. This is an old house and a small park.  I liked to go there because I lived nearby, and it was a surprisingly good place to find
wildlife-especially Anoles.  I could still find Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis) there although invasive Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) were getting more common. I saw a number of interesting
things, but I'll talk about this one.   It was a good day to watch anoles (I've already posted about 2 different anole species together that day. I took more pictures with a different camera. I 
didn't realize then how the Brown Anoles would overrun everything.  I found many Green Anoles at the park that day. Here are some that posed while I took their pictures.

    
                 1  Signalling w/dewlap                               2  looking around                                       3  preparing to leap                                          4  after the leap

    
           5  what's he after down there?                         6  A female is there!                                                  7                                                              8  

    
                           9                                                 10  dominance display?                                   11                                                         12  He tried to...nip at her.

    
             13  He missed, tried again               14  Finally, he grabbed skin behind her head.             15  Off for some safety.                                16  But I found them.

May 01 2013   (update 07/05/2020) Like almost everyone these days, I've been staying inside.  I have stopped driving around outside for...recreational purposes. So I'm catching up on old
material.  On May 01, 2013, I visited Russ Pitman Discovery Center. This is an old house and a small park.  I liked to go there because I lived nearby, and it was a surprisingly good place 
to find wildlife-especially Anoles.  I could still find Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis) there although invasive Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) were getting more common. I saw a number of
interesting things, but I'll talk about this one.  I noticed a Brown Anole on some railroad ties at the garden. It was broadcasting (bobbing, flaring dewlap) from that vantage point.  I looked 
around to find out if any other lizards would react or respond.   When I looked back at the broadcaster, I discovered that he had a challenger.  And...it was a Green Anole!  A different species
was challenging him!  The entire drama took just a few minutes.  I took photos, and shot video at 30fps high resolution and at 120 fps at 640 x 480.  Most of the video was shot in the last 
format, and I didn't think it showed enough. But, software has changed a lot since 2013 (today it's 2020), and I was able to enhance the video. The images below are from photos, and frame
grabs from the various video clips.  I've also edited the clips together into a single video that can be seen here.  

 First 8 pictures: The first display, and the appearance of the challenger.  Note that the challenger has lighter color and a longer skull than the original Brown. Also, that fiery red dewlap helps 
identify a Brown Anole.

    
                         1  5/01/2013                                     2  5/01/2013                                                        3  5/01/2013                                         4  5/01/2013

    
                 9  5/01/2013                                      10  5/01/2013                                              11  5/01/2013                                          12  5/01/2013
Last 4 pictures: The Brown had challenged the Green (image 12 above right).  The Green answered, and finally showed its dewlap. Green Anoles have a pink dewlap. This one seemed
to be deformed. Usually it has a more expanded shape.  The Green moved towards the Brown .  They both rested a bit, and then challenged again. The Green  finally retreated into
into the foliage.  Once again: I've edited the clips together into a single video that can be seen here.  

    
             14  5/01/2013                                            15  5/01/2013                                                  16  5/01/2013                                  17  5/01/2013
I have reqd-in a number of sources-that Brown Anoles are driving the Green Anoles out of their original homes. I've read that some of this is due to competition for food, and possibly
the young Greens being eaten by the Browns.  At least one study indicates that this environmental pressure is driving the Green Anoles up so that they are living in higher branches.
This is also possibly driving physiological adaptations in the Green Anoles--such as wider toe pads with more setae...the very tiny hairlike structures that allow them to cling to smooth
surfaces.  I  haven't seen anything written about actual physical confrontation between them.  It's interesting to think that they might be competing for mating territory, also.

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