She’s a cute redhead, but she’s dangerous. The Cuban Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is native to Cuba and The Bahamas, but has been very successful in colonizing other places around the world. It has been introduced in Texas, Hawaii, Taiwan, Singapore, and numerous islands in the Caribbean, including St. Vincent and Grand Cayman. In Florida, it has spread quickly and often at the expense of their native Green Anole.
For now, the population on St. Martin seems to be restricted to the grounds of the cruise ship pier, where it was probably introduced with imported plants, and some areas immediately adjacent. If this species does spread island-wide, it may pose a serious threat to our two native anole species, which includes one species found nowhere else in the world.
To learn more about this lizard, download a free copy of The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin.
