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Although it may look rather bizarre to a human who is observing, throat puffing is a totally normal behavior for anole lizards. The family Polychrotidae notably includes both the green anole and brown anole species. Only male anole lizards engage in throat puffing, and generally only for sexual and territorial purposes. Reaction to Danger in Anole LizardsIf a male anole lizard encounters something that he perceives to be a menace or danger, he will not hesitate to prominently fluff out his throat fan, which is also called a "dewlap." As he does this, he may also attempt to assert his status in a couple of other ways, including head nodding and moving sideways nearer to the source of danger. The "defeated" party in these cases generally displays his subordination by promptly leaving the scene. Mating Activity in Anole LizardsThe mating season for anole lizards generally starts in the beginning of the spring and lasts until the very end of the summer. Throat puffing may be especially prevalent during those months, as it is a very common courtship behavior. In order to lure in females for breeding, male anoles frequently puff their throats out conspicuously as they engage in mating dances. The mating dances typically consist of push-ups, bobbing of the head and agape mouths -- the works. Territorial Behaviors in Anole LizardsAnole lizards are extremely territorial creatures. A male lizard's throat puffing may mean something as simple as him wanting an outsider to back off of his home turf. By expanding his throat, a male anole is making an attempt to appear physically bigger than normal -- and therefore, significantly more intimidating to his pesky opponent. BoastfulnessThe dewlap "show" of anole lizards has an element of boastfulness to it, as well. After all, these lizards' have very vividly colored throats. Green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis), for instance, possess vibrant pink dewlaps. Brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei), however, have orange, red or yellow throats -- all equally visually stunning. The throat coloration difference is an easy way to tell green anoles apart from brown anoles. References Photo Credits
The dewlap is a work of art. If you have a male anole, you’ve probably already encountered it flaring its dewlap at you (or other lizards) multiple times. If you have a female, she may flare it as well, but probably to a lesser extent. This funny little orange-red pouch comes out at the most random times. How can they inflate it
like that? Do all anoles have it? And why do they show it? Let’s dive in and learn about these mysterious pink flaps of skin. What’s a dewlap?A dewlap (“DOO-LAP”) is a non-verbal communication anatomical structure that lizards use to show dominance or get a mate. Simply put, it’s a thin flap of skin that can be “inflated” right under the lizard’s neck. It’s also called a throat fan, a lizard blanket, or the “red or orange thing” under their neck. Males have it, some females have it. It’s one of the sexual dimorphisms between a male vs. female anole. The size of it depends on the anole species, gender, and if the anole is a full grown adult. How does it work?The dewlap is inflated by a group of dedicated bones called the hyoid apparatus. It allows the anole to “blow” it up and release a large, circular flap that’s larger than its own head. They can remain in this position for a few seconds while they bob their head, both of which are nonverbal communication between reptiles. You’ll often see that the lizard doesn’t remain still while exhibiting the dewlap. It’ll be inflating and deflating it multiple times while bobbing its head. The dewlap is red or orange in males and gray or white in females. Sunlight, UV, species, genetics, sex, age, location, or environmental effects can influence the overall appearance of it. This is why it’s sometimes red, pink, or orange. It can also be cream, white, or gray. What does the dewlap do? Why do anoles show their red throat?It’s used for a few different primary purposes:
Territory exhibition in male anolesFor those that are unaware, males green anoles are territorial. They’ll defend their territory against other males that intrude. One way to show their dominance is to flare their dewlap. This shows other lizards that a male has entered his territory and is in the danger zone. From this point on, the two males may fight or the intruding male may leave and submit. It’s a way of communication between anolis species to other creatures in the world. Males use them often and it can affect everything from mating to territory to their survival. Females will rarely use them, and not all females have them. It’s said that larger dewlaps may increase the risk of predation, but also increase the chance of mating and securing a territorial location. Males may also flare their dewlap to females, but this is rare. They often just let the female enter his domain and let her do what she wants. Dominance or defenseIf you’ve walked towards a stray anole, you may have seen him flare his dewlap at you They also do this to anything they perceive as a threat so they can look more “scary” to their prey. They’ll inflate it against people, pets, dogs, cats, birds, and other reptiles. MatingAs for mating purposes, the male will use it to bait female anoles. The larger and more colorful the dewlap, the higher quality of genes the male has- at least that’s what I’d assume. This then brings in female attraction. It’s similar to how female lions like darker manes or female peacocks like larger and more lustrous male feathers. That kind of thing. Do all anoles have dewlaps?All male green anoles have dewlaps. Females have them too, but they’re much smaller and they rarely use them. Not only anoles have dewlaps. Some iguanas, for instance, have them also. However, the anole genius is most popular for the large dewlaps that can extend and retract. There are over 425 species total. Some of the popular ones are the Cuban green anole, Allison’s anole, Bahamian green anole, Carolina green anole, Costa Rican anole, Bark anole, Crested anole, Equatorial anole, and the Knight anole. They all exhibit the dewlap. The size, color, and shape of the dewlap vary by the anole species, sex, and environmental factors. Do female brown anoles have dewlaps?While all males have dewlaps, female anoles may also have them. They’re usually white or gray and a lot smaller in size. Females will rarely display them, so it can be hard to determine if your lizard has one or not. All about dewlapsNow you know the basics about dewlaps in Anolis carolinensis. These beautiful, flappy pieces of throat skin are something to be marveled at. Although you should never force your anole to defend itself or become stressed, when it does, you should take the time to enjoy it. Avoid trying to handle it when the dewlap is out because it’ll probably bite you. When you see two wild anoles outside, you now have a deeper understanding of what’s going on in their nonverbal communication. Telling two males or a male and female should be easy just by looking at their dewlap. Do you have any questions? Can this page be improved? Did you find it helpful or not? Leave a comment and let us know! Further reading/references
Why do lizards inflate their throat?Throat. Very territorial, Collared Lizards stand high on their legs and inflate their throats when they spy a stranger. Making themselves look bigger is one way lizards communicate dominance.
Why do geckos push their throats out?The throat pouch moves as part of normal respiration, and will be very noticeable when he is stressed or excited. Bulging the throat helps a gecko to smell a larger quantity of air, helping him to locate prey. A gecko's throat pouch also normally bulges when he eats and drinks.
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Why do lizards puff their throat out?
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