Cuban Knight Anole - Anolis equestris

The Cuban Knight Anole - Anolis equestris - is also known as the Knight Anole and Cuban Giant Anole (or just 'Chipojo' in Cuba). Its name indicates its origin but it has also been introduced to Florida where they are sometimes referred to as "iguanas" or "iguanitos", but this generally stems from confusion with the green iguana. In Cuba they can be seen from near sea level to an altitude of 3,300 ft (1,000 m) in a wide range of habitats but are mostly found in trees on the trunk or on branches in the canopy but they will descend to the ground to get from one tree to another, or to gain heat on warm asphalt, rocks, or paved areas. They do not like cold temperatures and when winter gets very cold in Florida, they have been known to fall to the ground from tree branches. In highland parts of its native Cuba it has been known for a few individuals to rest adjacent to each other during the relatively cold winters, otherwise the species is solitary and highly territorial. This one was seen, up in a tree, in Guardalavaca, Cuba.

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