How To Tell If Your Green Anole Is Male or Female: The Complete Guide

Getting a new pet green anole is an exciting experience! These small lizards are full of personality and make great additions to any home However, one of the first things you’ll want to figure out is whether your new friend is male or female This guide will walk you through the key ways to determine the sex of a green anole.

Why Is It Important To Identify The Sex?

Knowing the sex of your anole is crucial for a few key reasons:

• Proper Housing: Male anoles should not be housed together as they are very territorial and will fight. Females can generally be housed together.

• Breeding: If you want to breed your anoles, you’ll need a confirmed male and female pair.

• Behavior Males and females exhibit some different behaviors especially relating to breeding It’s useful to know what to expect

• Naming Giving your new pet a name is much easier when you know whether it’s male or female!

Physical Differences Between Males and Females

While juvenile green anoles look very similar, adults develop key physical differences between the sexes. Here are the main ways to distinguish males from females:

Size

• Adult males typically reach 5-8 inches in length. Females reach about 5 inches.

Dewlap

• The dewlap is the large, extendable flap of skin under the chin.

• Males have a large, vibrantly colored (often pink or red) dewlap.

• Females have a much smaller, pale dewlap.

Head Size

• Males have a larger head and longer snout than females.

Postanal Scales

• Males develop enlarged scales right above the vent (called postanal scales). Females never develop these.

Back Stripe

• Some females develop a light stripe down the back. This fades in mature males.

Behavioral Differences

Observing how your anole behaves can also provide clues to whether it’s male or female:

Territorial Displays

• Males frequently bob their heads, push out their dewlaps, and do “push ups” to show dominance.

• Females are less likely to show these territorial displays.

Aggression

• Males are often more aggressive, especially to other males. They will fight by biting, chasing, and wrestling.

• Females show less overt aggression.

Breeding Displays

• When breeding, males will bob their heads, show their dewlaps, and chase females.

• Females are generally more shy and reserved during breeding.

Egg Laying

• Only females lay eggs, so this guarantees you have a female!

Guaranteed Ways To Identify Sex

While the above clues are helpful, there are two foolproof ways to identify a green anole’s sex:

Postanal Scales

As mentioned above, the presence of enlarged scales right above the vent confirms your anole is a male. Females never develop these scales.

Egg Laying

If you witness your anole laying eggs, you can be 100% sure you have a female green anole. Males are simply not capable of egg laying.

Tips For Identifying Sex

Here are some useful tips to accurately sex your green anole:

• Examine adult anoles. Babies and juveniles are harder to sex based on physical traits.

• Use multiple indicators like size, dewlap, scales, etc. instead of just one.

• Be patient and observe behavior like displays and aggression over time.

• Handle large males carefully as they can bite aggressively. Females tend to be calmer.

• Take clear, well-lit photos from multiple angles to compare physical features.

• If all else fails, a reptile veterinarian can probe or do blood tests to confirm sex.

While telling a male green anole from a female can take some practice at first, their sexual dimorphism gives plenty of clues once you know what to look for. Pay close attention to physical traits like dewlaps, scales, stripes and size as well as behaviors like aggression and displays. If you remain observant, patient and use the reliable methods like checking for eggs or scales, you’ll be able to confidently identify your pet’s sex in no time at all! Properly sexing your anole helps ensure you meet its specific care needs and lets you plan for potential breeding if desired.