Posted on 09/08/2007 8:35:44 AM PDT by grundle
High above the forest floor on the remote Colombian island of Gorgona lives a lizard with brilliant blue skin, rivaling the color of the sky. Anolis gorgonae, or the blue anole, is a species so elusive and rare, that scientists have been unable to give even an estimate of its population. Due to the lizard’s isolated habitat and reclusive habits, researchers know little about the blue anole, but are captivated by its stunning coloration.
Approximately 35 miles off the Pacific coast of Colombia lies Gorgona, an island with a unique past and an uncertain future. A high security prison colony was maintained on the island beginning in the 1950s until its closure in 1984. Because the island is separated from the mainland by an underwater depression 270 meters deep, Gorgona maintains some endemic biodiversity. In 1985, the island reemerged as a national park to protect the rare species that thrived in the delicate ecosystem.
The blue anole is truly stunning to behold--it is pure blue, with no color differentiation between males and females. The largest visual distinction is the male’s dewlap, like other anole species, except in this case the dewlap is bright white, making the blue contrast ever more dramatic. In spite of this striking color, few humans have been lucky enough to spot the world’s only pure blue lizard.
Princeton University researcher Maria Margarita Ramos has studied A. gorgonae in its natural habitat. Ramos experienced firsthand the difficulties of getting an accurate assessment of the species, which has proven to be quite elusive. During her most recent study, Ramos only observed seven individuals. Fellow scientist Nicholas Urbina of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) faced similar problems, seeing on two specimens during his time on the island. With such a small sample, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the species.
In spite of troubled efforts to get a definitive population estimate for the species, local expert herpetologists agree that the blue anole is a threatened species. The primary threats appear to be habitat destruction through deforestation and over-collection by zealous admirers of the beautiful and uniquely colored lizard. Deforestation is a particular threat as the blue anole is an arboreal species, with only the females venturing to the forest floor on the occasion to deposit their eggs.
Fernando Castro, a biologist at the Universidad del Valle who has studied the reptiles of Gorgona, told mongabay.com that much of the deforestation that occurred on Gorgona took place when the island was a prison.
"The population relied heavily on the collection of fuelwood," said Castro.
Further, he says, habitat modification may disrupt the delicate ecological balance of the island, putting some species at a disadvantage to their natural predators.
"Today we really know very little about the ecological needs of this species," explained Castro. "We do not know the carrying capacity of its present area of habitat or whether biological and ecological relationships -- like predator-prey relationships -- have shifted. It is possible that A. gorgonae's natural predators, including birds, monkeys, or other reptiles, have better adapted to the changes."
An added threat, due to the isolated nature of the island and its fragile equilibrium of species, are invasive organisms. Such "alien invasives" have caused severe ecological havoc on island environments around the world.
Finally. growing interest in Gorgona as a tourist destination is a concern. Recently part of the island was privately concessioned for tourism and Castro says it is unlikely that tour operators will be overly concerned about the well-being of a small lizard.
A proposal for saving the blue anole
Given the restricted geographic distribution and obvious aesthetic appeal of the blue anole, the species may be a good candidate for a captive breeding program that could also reap rewards for Gorgona's other species. Under a carefully managed system, a limited number of blue anoles could be auctioned to the public to finance conservation and rehabilitation efforts on Gorgona. The blue anole would serve as a charismatic example of a flagship species that could ensure the preservation of ecosystems on the island.
A similar project organized by the National Geographic Society (NGS) has met some success. Last year the organization announced it would offer specimen of the Wollemi Pine, one of the world's oldest and rarest trees, to consumers in the United States. NGS figured that the sales would be an opportunity to conserve and propagate the species. Some of the proceeds also went towards conservation efforts of the prehistoric species in its native habitat in Australia.
Castro says that a captive breeding program could be an effective way to prevent the extinction of the species, noting that Anolis carolinensis, a related species, is regularly bred in the United States for the pet trade.
"While it would be technically illegal to remove lizards from Gorgona under current Colombian law since A. gorgonae is a protected species, the reproductive techniques used in the U.S. could be applied here on Gorgona to help increase the population of the species," said Castro. However he warned that only a minimal number of wild anoles should be captured for any sort of captive breeding program.
He added that in situ conservation strategies, based on the island of Gorgona, are preferable to ex-situ approaches which would remove the species completely from its natural habitat.
"We need to devise in situ research -- not ex-situ -- to improve our understanding of the entire Gorgona ecosystem. If you think saving A. gorgonae is going to be difficult, wait until you try to preserve all the species on the island."
Castro has a good point. Nevertheless, using A. gorgonae as a symbolic species for the conservation of Gorgona as a whole could help the island's other species avoid singing the blues.
Note: there are other species of lizard with blue coloration -- including the Blue Iguana (Cyclura lewisi), which is also critically endangered; various chameleons, African agamids, among others -- but A. gorgonae is the only species with "pure" blue coloration head-to-tail
The South American blue anole is critically endangered, and could go extinct. However, it's illegal for the pet trade to take them into capticity and breed them. And it was environmentalists who passed that law.
I don’t understand what the problem really is. Last time, I think they shot down China’s proposal for starting “tiger farms” for parts. What’s wrong with this, if it can reduce the strain on the environment because of poaching?
The animals in your yard aren’t chameleons. They’re anoles. The green anole is a very common animal in the southeastern U.S.
They taste like blue chicken .
Brown Anole [CUBAN ANOLE] Anolis sagrei sagrei 
The short version is "Sell them in pet stores and you'll have all the blue whatzits you could ever want."
L
Yes, I know. Green anoles can be brown, but they are different from brown anoles.
Yes, that’s right. It seems that most conservationists would rather have endangered animals go extinct, instead of allowing them to be sold for profit.
Got plenty here, cool little critters.
= Problem solved.LOL
I agree. Green anoles are awesome! I used to have some as pets when I was a kid. It’s too cold where I live (Pittsburgh) for them to survive in the wild.
It would be a lot easier to have breeding programs if they wre legal!
He’s pretty. That’s a chameleon, not an anole.
We have tons of geckos here at the House of Chan. They live both indoors and out, and we love ‘em, because they are utterly harmless, yet eat bugs by the bushel-basketful. We even have one of those anoles — I recognized him by his neck-pouch thingy. They really are useful creatures.
In 22 years, an unattended vacant lot can become a miniature forrest. Somehow I can't picture deforrestation remaining a constant if a jungle is left alone for that amount of time..........
A pet store closed years ago and turned a bunch of Geckos loose. Near town the Geckos are competing with the Anoles. Not so bad out here. The Brown Anoles seem more aggresive, they may eat Geckos.
When an Anole gets in the house here, my cat will destroy all in his path in pursuit, I’ve got to get up and settle the issue.
Nobody here calls them “anoles,” so no one here would know what I was talking about. Think I’ll work it into a conversation sometime—. Thanks!
Here in South Florida, carolinensis has been largely replaced by sagrei.
Our cats love to hunt the geckos, which hunting we discourage — the geckos are better pest-catchers than the cats. When one of the cats does get one, the poor gecko usually jettisons its tail section and makes its escape, leaving a confused cat with a wiggling, thrashing tail in its mouth and no idea what just happened.
Probably headed that way here, but sagrei aren’t supposed to be as tolerant of cold weather. I don’t know how far North they can be viable. Hell, I never suspected how far South a liberal can breed!
LOL
You know you are in trouble? The Blue Hen chicken is the state bird of Delaware. Honest. You can expect the cops any minute now ...
I know. I used to breed several species.
“Save the environment,
kill an environmentalist.”
There is actually a coffee mug with a beautiful color picture of a white coated baby harp seal on it.
Above the picture are the words “Save A Seal”
Below the picture are the words “Club A Liberal”
But, for $26 dollars I passed.
After several kills we have become disgusted at her blood lust and oftentimes I must grab kitty by the scruff and use my finger to pry her jaws open, releasing the prey. I guess the critters just taste too good to give up.
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