Illustration of green anole
green anole
noun
plural green anoles
: an anole (Anolis carolinensis) of the southeastern U.S. that can vary its skin color from green to brown and is often kept as a pet
The true chameleon and the green anole have much in common. They are both lizards. Most species live in trees or bushes, subsisting mainly on insects. Both can change color, although the anole's ability to do so is considerably more limited than the chameleon's.—
David Crews
David Crewscalled also American chameleon, Carolina anole
Examples of green anole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further up, in the leafy tree canopies, are American green anoles, and the largest species, the Cuban knight anole, about the size of a newborn kitten.
—James T. Stroud, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the green anoles on islands without brown anoles did not develop the larger, stickier pads.
—Bill Kearney, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2024
In Florida, the native North American green anole (Anolis carolinensis) has lived high up on tree trunks, consuming arboreal insects in the low canopy, for millions of years.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
And unlike the colorful green anole, the Texas spiny lizard keeps a low profile by blending in with its surroundings rather than sticking out.
—René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 22 Dec. 2020
The Carolina anole also is known as the green anole for its bright, verdant color.
—René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 12 Aug. 2020
The 34-year-old UF student is in his fourth year pursuing a doctoral degree in interdisciplinary ecology, and much of his work has focused on Gainesville’s native green anole lizards and their responses to two threats: development and invasive brown anoles.
—Danielle Ivanov, orlandosentinel.com, 23 Oct. 2021
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James T. Stroud, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, the green anoles on islands without brown anoles did not develop the larger, stickier pads.
—Bill Kearney, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2024
In Florida, the native North American green anole (Anolis carolinensis) has lived high up on tree trunks, consuming arboreal insects in the low canopy, for millions of years.
—Quanta Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
And unlike the colorful green anole, the Texas spiny lizard keeps a low profile by blending in with its surroundings rather than sticking out.
—René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 22 Dec. 2020
The Carolina anole also is known as the green anole for its bright, verdant color.
—René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, 12 Aug. 2020
The 34-year-old UF student is in his fourth year pursuing a doctoral degree in interdisciplinary ecology, and much of his work has focused on Gainesville’s native green anole lizards and their responses to two threats: development and invasive brown anoles.
—Danielle Ivanov, orlandosentinel.com, 23 Oct. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Green anole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20anole. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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