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Brown Anole

Anolis sagrei

Reptile · family Polychrotidae · order Squamata

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Brown Anole
Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Typical length
8 in[3]

The Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is a reptile, also called the Cuban Brown Anole[4][5]. It is not native to the US and has been introduced in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas[6].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Brown Anole a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. In all five states where it is introduced, NatureServe marks its state rank as SNA[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern

Where Brown Anole lives

NatureServe lists the Brown Anole as introduced, not native, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas[6]. Most observation records on GBIF come from Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana and Georgia[9]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many animals live there[9]. The National Park Service records it in 4 park units[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: introduced, state rank SNAGAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: introduced, state rank SNATXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[8].
Show state ranks (5 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
GeorgiaSNANot Applicable
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
TexasSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this lizard, including hardwood and mixed forest, woodland, savanna, suburban areas, urban areas and riparian areas (land beside water)[11]. It likes sunny places and is rarely found in deep woods[12]. In Florida it is generally found in towns and suburbs, and also along roadways[12]. It is seen on trees, shrubs, fences, walls and around buildings, and on or near the ground[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

The Brown Anole is an invertivore, which means it eats animals without backbones[13]. NatureServe notes insects, spiders and other small invertebrates[14]. Its typical length is 21 cm (8 in)[3]. Females lay single eggs, and the eggs hatch in about a month[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 21 cm (8 in)
Food habits[13] Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

The Brown Anole is diurnal, which means active in the daytime[17]. It is not a migrant[16]. NatureServe says it gets going later in the day than most other anoles do, and activity usually peaks around midday[18]. In southern Florida, eggs have been seen from April to October[15]. GBIF records in the US peak in March, April and May, which shows when people report it, not how many animals there are[19].

January: 4,581 recordsJanFebruary: 7,066 recordsFebMarch: 12,963 recordsMarApril: 14,503 recordsAprMay: 9,936 recordsMayJune: 8,963 recordsJunJuly: 8,053 recordsJulAugust: 8,525 recordsAugSeptember: 9,891 recordsSepOctober: 9,828 recordsOctNovember: 5,370 recordsNovDecember: 5,046 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[19].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January4,581
February7,066
March12,963
April14,503
May9,936
June8,963
July8,053
August8,525
September9,891
October9,828
November5,370
December5,046

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Brown Anole as present in 4 park units[10]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Georgia[9]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Brown Anole endangered?
No. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].
Where does the Brown Anole live in the US?
It is introduced in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas[6]. GBIF records are most numerous in Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana and Georgia[9].
What does the Brown Anole eat?
It eats insects, spiders and other small invertebrates[14].
How big is a Brown Anole?
Its typical length is 21 cm (8 in)[3].
When can you see a Brown Anole?
It is active in the daytime, with activity generally peaking at midday[17][18]. GBIF records are highest in March, April and May[19].

Facts and sources

  1. Brown Anole is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Brown Anole: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 21 cm (8 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is a reptile in the family Polychrotidae, order Squamata. NatureServe Explorer
  5. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Brown Anole: Cuban Brown Anole. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe lists Brown Anole as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe state ranks for Brown Anole (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  9. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Brown Anole: Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Georgia. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  10. NPSpecies park lists recording Brown Anole as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Brown Anole: Forest - hardwood, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Savanna, Suburban/orchard, Urban/edificarian, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Brown Anole. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on food for Brown Anole. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Brown Anole. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Brown Anole: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe notes on phenology for Brown Anole. NatureServe Explorer
  19. GBIF observation records of Brown Anole in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.