About Anolis cuvieri Merrem, 1820
Anolis cuvieri is a relatively large anole lizard, with a mean snout–vent length reaching up to 132 mm (5.2 in). It has a large, robust skull, long hind legs, and a serrated ridge of raised scales along its back. Like most anoles, this species has large flattened disks under the second and third phalanges of each toe, which allow it to adhere to vertical surfaces. This species is predominantly green; some individuals have faint light green stripes on the sides and dorsal surface. In some specimens, especially large adult males, the head has heavy sky blue blotches that spread onto the nape. This blue coloration may extend to the neck, or even all the way along the dorsal surface to the length of the spine. When blue coloration is present in females, it only appears as a sky blue tint on the head and does not extend to the neck. In both males and females, the area around the eyes is either bright yellow or vibrant yellow-green. Both male and female Puerto Rican giant anoles have a large dewlap. However, the male dewlap is noticeably larger and bright yellow, while the female dewlap is light green with a blue-green upper portion and faint black stripes running horizontally across the upper two-thirds. The coloration of Anolis cuvieri changes with age: juveniles of both sexes are gray-brown or brown, with brown vertical stripes along the entire dorsal surface of the body and limbs. As they mature, juveniles gradually develop the green coloration of adults. There is also a rare brown adult morph of Anolis cuvieri that is solid brown across the body, with black spots on the sides and neck, and a yellow-blotched orbital area. Both sexes have a large erectile crest on the tail, though it is usually higher in males. Anolis cuvieri is a crown giant anole, a group of large species that live in the uppermost canopy of tall trees and rarely descend to ground level. It is only found in intact forest regions that contain large numbers of large trees. It is typically active several meters above the ground, and occurs mainly in palms, Ficus trees, and other large trees. This species moves by jumping from branch to branch within the canopy, a lifestyle for which its long hind limbs are evolved. It is a mesic species that prefers wet forest areas over more xeric conditions, where it is rarely found.
