Male anoline lizards utilize a colourful, expandable throat fan, called the dewlap, to rapidly and unambiguously signal their presence and species identity to conspecifics.
Some lizards have a flap of skin beneath their head and neck, termed a dewlap. The color, size and shape of the dewlap varies by species, gender, and to an extent, individual.
Frill-necked lizards puff out these neck frills on either side of its head when threatened. The lizards often raise their frills when battling for territory or when coming into contact with another lizard, especially during mating season.
The bright red coloration on the head signifies the breeding season where males fight savagely with rivals to defend their territory.
Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) - Introduced
Brown anoles are brown to grayish in color, generally with whitish or yellowish patterning on the back. Males generally have an orange or red throat fan with a white edge.
Anoles are not a dangerous species. They don't produce any toxins or venom the way some snakes and lizards do. They remain quite small their whole lives. They prey on insects and don't have teeth or claws that can do damage to larger creatures.
Signs of Dehydration in Reptiles
Wrinkled and/or saggy skin. Dented/cracked scales. Trouble shedding. Loss of skin elasticity.
If your pet has become lazy, lethargic, and isn't eating, this could be a sign of being too hot (or something else). As a first check, look at the vivarium temperature and follow our advice above.
In lizards, top scoring comments were: lethargy, hiding, anorexia, increased respiratory rate, gaping of mouth, inappetence and pulling away from painful stimulus. Other comments included lying flat to the ground, and going limp when handled.
As we've described above, waving is a clear signal that these reptiles have been doing long before they were considered viable pets. They are simply trying to use it in a captive setting. Expert Tip: The closest waving gets to saying hi is when it's being used to show they acknowledge your presence or dominance.
There are three main reasons why many species of lizards sometimes bob up and down in a “push-up” motion. These include: Displaying dominance towards another lizard and/or assessing their physical size and strength (usually between males) Courting another lizard for mating (usually done by males towards females)
Attention Seeking from Humans
Lizards who are used to getting a lot of attention from their owners will often try to get more by bobbing their head at them.
Lizards that use tactile communication either use direct or indirect touch as a form of communication. Some species come into direct contact with one another, such as nudging, licking, biting, or bumping another lizard.
Blankets, newspaper and paper towels or all work well. Blankets are recommended particularly during cold weather. You can use a wet towel if your lizard requires a moist environment, or dry towels if it doesn't. This will also provide cushioning for comfort and your lizard will feel calm with something to burrow into.
In response, lizards have a variety of defensive strategies to draw upon. For example, chuckwallas (Sauromalus) typically remain close to rock piles. When danger threatens, they move into small crevices and puff up their bodies to make their extrication difficult.
Lizards chirp at different times of the day, depending on their direction. If they chirp in the morning, it means a good day, while if they chirp in the evening, it means a bad day. Lizards also make squeaking sounds, which are used to warn predators.
It has been concluded that most lizards have good auditory sensitivity over a range from 100 to 4,000 hertz and relatively poor hearing for lower and higher tones. This auditory range is not very different from that of humans, although somewhat more restricted than that of most mammals.
They aren't affectionate. They do have individual personalities and may appreciate you (or at least your treats), but they don't form emotional bonds and won't enjoy being petted. If you want an animal that likes physical affection, get a social mammal or bird. Reptiles need to be left alone most of the time.
Males lizards often have large “femoral pores,” or little raised bumps, on the bottom side their back legs, which are used to secrete pheromones; females generally either don't have them or have much smaller ones.
For a baby lizard, the water should be ½ inch to 1 inch deep. Adults can bathe in about 1-2 inches of water. If the water is deeper than your pet lizard's knees, give him something to climb on if he wants, like a rock or a rolled-up towel.
Offer water or diluted electrolyte solutions such as sports drinks, Pedialyte or Ricelyte near the reptile's head for easy, convenient drinking. Use an eyedropper or needle-less syringe to drip water onto the reptile's snout.