The war started a few years ago when Cuban brown anoles, who have called South Florida home for about 100 years, ... But the cresteds are slightly bigger, and the males grow a crest on their tails.

While green anoles can change only from green to brown, a chameleon’s skin can exhibit a broad spectrum of rainbow colors. The two types of reptiles also differ physically.

The brown anole is hardly alone. Over 170 different reptiles have been introduced into Florida from imported cargo, from release of pets, or from zoos and research facilities after hurricanes.

Brown anoles were first recorded in the Florida Keys in the 1880s and since then have spread to Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. They’ve also been found in California and Hawai’i.

She sits, her sleek, green body invisible in the tangle of leaves, and waits. High up in the trees, in her favorite hunting spot, the green anole is patient, her bright, black eyes swiveling ...

Most brown anoles have many faint stripes or spots. Male green anoles have a pink dewlap (throat fan) edged in white. Male brown anoles have a red/orange dewlap edged in yellow.

Unlike the native Green Anole, the Brown Anole is actually an invasive species to the southeastern United States. They are native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and places like Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

“Brown anoles and green anoles are fighting for territory in Louisiana and they’ve arrived in Texas, particularly along the coast, but also along the highways,” said Dr. Johnson.

When able, brown anoles split their time between the trees and the forest floor, foraging for both arboreal and terrestrial insects. Image Credit: Jonathan Losos, Washington University in St. Louis.

The brown anoles, having few enemies, have taken over the former habitat of the greens, forcing them into new territories and farther from our sight.

Often mistaken for a chameleon, The Green Anole can change its color between shades of green and brown. This color change is influenced by factors like mood, temperature and social interactions ...