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rsbfotos | all galleries >> Galleries >> Wildlife/Reptiles & Amphibians > Shedding Anole Displaying Dewlap
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04-APR-2008

Shedding Anole Displaying Dewlap

A shedding Anole showing off his "dewlap".

Male Anoles have a bright, cherry red thin finger of cartilage running from his chin to the bottom of his neck. The cartilage
expands the skin to form a "dewlap" that normally appears white but, when stretched, reveals its red underlayer. The male
uses this dewlap to announce his territory to other males and, at the same time, to attract the eye of a female that hasn't
yet chosen a father for her offspring. Since one anole may defend only a few square yards, it's not unusual to see several
males patrolling a large pile of stones or logs, frantically doing push-ups to show off their dewlaps to best advantage.
If a male is really agitated, he may open his mouth wide in a menacing display, and then--if a neighbor doesn't
retreat--attack and clamp down on a rival with his toothy jaws.

5d8095_ 249.JPG

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 ,plus a Nikon 6T Close-Up Lens.
1/40s f/10.0 at 51.1mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
comment
joseantonio19-Jul-2012 20:43
Spectacular image full of details. V.
Guest 06-Mar-2010 04:09
Beautiful Anole, great work getting a sharp photo, I have taken a lot of pictures of the Anole in TN, but I don't have a camera that will take this good macro