Anolis
|A-no-lis|
🇺🇸
/əˈnoʊlɪs/
🇬🇧
/əˈnɒlɪs/
anole (small American arboreal lizard)
Etymology
'Anolis' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'anolis', itself adopted into European naturalist usage; the Spanish form likely comes from indigenous Caribbean languages (recorded forms such as 'anoli' or similar) used by early colonists to name local lizards.
'Anolis' was taken into scientific (Neo-Latin) usage in the late 18th to early 19th century as taxonomists Latinized common/local names (Spanish 'anolis' → Neo-Latin/Latinized genus name 'Anolis'), establishing it as the formal genus name.
Initially the word referred to local/common names for small lizards in the Caribbean and nearby regions; over time it became the standardized scientific genus name 'Anolis' referring to that group of lizards.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a genus of small to medium arboreal lizards in the family Dactyloidae, native to the Americas; members are commonly called anoles and are known for dewlaps, adhesive toe pads, and some ability to change color.
Anolis carolinensis is one of the best-known species of Anolis and is often seen in gardens and on fences in the southeastern United States.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the common name used for an individual member of the genus Anolis (same animals referred to as 'anoles').
A juvenile Anolis climbed quickly up the tree trunk to escape the predator.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/25 08:53