Florida Lizards Evolve Rapidly, Within 15 Years and 20 Generations

October 23, 2014 • by Marc Airhart

Competition between brown and green anoles for the same food and space may be driving adaptations of the green anoles

Two lizards, one green and one brown

Native green anoles (left) have evolved better gripping feet in response to an invasion of brown anoles (right) on islands in Florida. Credit: Todd Campbell and Adam Algar.


A lizard's foot

This is a flatbed digital scan of the left hind foot of Anolis carolinensis, or green anole. Toe pad measurements were taken on the expanded scales at the end of the longest toe. Credit: Yoel Stuart/University of Texas at Austin

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