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Anolis carolinensis

Basic information
Scientific name Anolis carolinensis

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Common names Green anole
Higher taxon Iguanidae, Sauria (Lacertilia), Squamata, Reptilia
Natural range Southeastern part of USA
Habitat Arboreal. In and around forest, shrub, around farm area.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Bonin Islands (Chichijima and Hahajima Islands), Okinawajima Island Range in Japan
Origin Lousiana - northern Florida
Date Middle 1960s (Chichijima), early 1980s (Hahajima), late 1980s (Okinawajima)
Route Escape of pet animal and/or hitchhiking transport of US military forces.
Impact Predation on endangered native insects, competition with native lizard. Many endemic insects on Ogasawara have been seriously damaged by the predation, and some species are nearly extinct on Chichijima and Hahajima Is.
Native organism(s) affected: Many native (often endemic) insects, such as Celastrina ogasawaraensis, Boninagrion ezoin, Hemicordulia ogasawarensis, Boninthemis insularis, and Meimuna boninensis (predation). Native lizard of Ogasawara Cryptoblepharus nigropunctatus (competition)
Regulation in Japan Import to Japan, transport and keeping within Japan of any species of genus Anolis and Norops are legally restricted.
Introduced range in other countries Micronesia, Hawai, Yap, Palau
Reference Notes
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Hayashi et al. (2009) Origin and genetic diversity of the lizard populations, Anolis carolinensis, introduced to the Ogasawara Islands, Japan. Biogeography. 11, 119-124.
  • JWRC (ed) (2008) A Photographic Guide to the Invasive Alien Species in Japan. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Karube (2005) The influence of the introduced lizard, Anolis carolinensis on the native insect fauna of the Ogasawara Islnads. Bull Herpetol Soc Jpn. 2005(2):163-168. (in Jpn)
  • Sengoku et al. (eds) (1996) The Encyclopedia of Animals in Japan 5 Amphibians, Reptiles, Chondrichthyes. Heibonsha, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Toda (2005) Notes on longevity of an introduced green anole in captivity. Bull Herpetol Soc Jpn. 2005(2):121-122. (in Jpn)
  • etc.
100 of the Japan’s Worst Invasive Alien Species