Watts' Anole

About the Watts' Anole

Anolis wattsii, commonly known as Watts's anole or the Antigua Bank bush anole, is a species of anole, a lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is native to islands in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles. Anolis wattsii is native to Antigua, and has also been introduced to Saint Lucia.

Anolis pogus was formerly described as a subspecies of A. wattsii. The taxonomy of two further subspecies, sometimes described as A. schwartzi and A. forresti, is unclear. At a minimum, the three taxa are very closely related, and similar in appearance, ecology, and behavior. A. w. schwartzi is found on Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, and Nevis. A. w. forresti is endemic to Barbuda.

The specific name, wattsii, is in honor of Dr. Sir Francis Watts who became the Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies. Boulenger GA (1894). "Description of a new Anolis from Antigua, West Indies". Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., Sixth Series 14: 375-376. (Anolis wattsi, new species).

Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication... Wikipedia →