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Many-scaled Anole or Golfo-Dulce Anole

Norops polylepis

Photo by pamsai
Published on Project Noah
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8.6553, -83.4798

Field Notes

Description:

A small brown and white speckled lizard displaying a beautiful yellow dewlap. Seen in the jungle of SW Costa Rica. Active during daytime.

Habitat:

Osa Peninsular. Endemic to the Gulf of Dulce, Costa Rica

Notes:

They are athletic creatures that run fast, and jump many times their length. They can also climb straight up almost any surface at blinding speed. They usually sit downward. Seeing a potential prey they dart down towards it. They display their dewlap and bob their head to attract sexual partners and to mark their territory. They feed on spiders and insects like cockroaches and mosquitoes.

Reference Links:

Many-scaled anole

Species ID Suggestions

Many-scaled Anole

Anolis polylepis

Reference Link
AshleyT
1

Comments (11)
Isabela
Beautiful shot! I wasn't so lucky, it was very dark when I spotted this wonderful creature.
pamsai
thanks Mark.. definitely showing off. Posed like that for quite a while.
pamsai
Wow, thank you Malcom for nominating this anole with the beautiful dewlap as SOTW. Nature is so amazing... I wonder if it thought it would frighten me off ! But instead it drew mw nearer !!
Leuba Ridgway
Lucky Pam - great specimen ! Your photos are fantastic.
Malcolm Wilton-Jones
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
AshleyT
You got the timing right :) Almost 9 pm here, which surely means I am sitting on the couch with my laptop in my lap ;)
pamsai
thanks Ashley. I was hoping you were online ! Tried to time it for the US evening. It's early morning here in India...
AshleyT
The dewlap showing is about the only way to have hope of identifying anoles in the tropics, very nice photos!

Spotted for Missions

Anoles!
Mission
Paso Pacifico Survey
Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Life in Costa Rica
Mission
Reptiles of Costa Rica
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 25, 2016

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