Carolina Anole Anolis carolinensis

I find these lizards in abundance in, on, out, and around assorted crannies at the Twisty Compound. One was living in my fireplace for a while, and another in my desk drawer. Heck if I know how they get in the house. In the spring they lounge on the deck, where they do pushups, and turn from green to brown and back again, and exhibit their red throat fans to interested parties, but they take a powder in the summer.

When I was a kid, they used to tie strings to anoles and sell'em as lapel pins at the State Fair of Texas.

Above: August 2004. Infant. About an inch long excluding tail, it is as yet unaware that it is supposed to flee my horrible spectre.

Left: August 2004. Adolescent, about 2 inches long, expertly blending into the verdure.

Below left : September 2003. Heavy machinery, the North South Austin anole's natural habitat.

Below right: May 2004. Two burly males locked in mortal combat over the coveted Front Window Territory. This encounter was extremely violent, with one lizard clamping the other in repeated jaw-locks-of-death. They'd fall off the wall and climb back up again to resume the battle. That's entertainment!