Brown Anoles - New lizard found at Gardens by the Bay

A female Brown Anole with Canon EOS 7D with Tamron 90mm at f18 1/160 ISO 250

Brown Anole (Norops sagrei) is native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and some adjacent islands in the Caribbean. It was recently discovered in Gardens by the Bay in late 2012. It seemed to be established quite well at Gardens by the Bay.

They can be easily spotted among the ornamental plants along the coast just outside Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant. I was there on 3 occasions to photograph them and encountered at least 20 individuals during each visit.

 I must say brown anoles are quite entertaining to photograph especially the males as males are territorial and display their dewlaps (reddish throat fans) to show their dominance.

A brown male displaying its dewlap with Nikon D600 with AFS 300mm f2.8 VR  (now replaced by Nikon 300mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II )

A dark-colored male with Nikon D600 with AFS- VR 105mm at f16 1/100 ISO 200

A dark male showing its dominance over another male in the background with Canon EOS 7D with EF 100-400mm  @400mm  at f18 1/160 ISO 250

Shedding its skin with Nikon D600 with AFS- VR 105mm at f9 1/100 ISO 200

There were several juvenile on the pavement too. 

A juvenile on the pavement with Nikon D600 with AFS- VR 105mm at f9 1/100 ISO 200

While they can be quite photogenic subjects but their presence could threatened our native wildlife.  Brown anoles are largely insectivorous, feeding on flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars and moths. It is also known to feed on the young of smaller lizards. 

Let's hope the brown anoles will not be spread to other parts of Singapore!

References:

Recent Introduction of the Brown Anole.