Allison's Anole

In terms of colour and morphology, Allison's anole is superficially similar to the better-known American green anole. While females are overall green with paler underparts, similar to the green anole, males have a reddish-pink dewlap, and typically have bright blue heads, forelegs, and frontal half of the body (in males from Honduras, only parts of the head are blue with the remaining green). In all individuals the throat is usually white. Both sexes are able to rapidly change their colour to brown. Females reach about 7.5 cm (3 in) in snout-vent length and males about 10 cm (4 in). It is one of the larger species in the carolinensis species group. Allison's anole is a typical trunk-crown anole. Like other anoles in the carolinensis group, it has a large, conspicuously triangular-shaped head, and males have a prominent nuchal crest. This lizard has large subdigital toepads, which help facilitate climbing and clinging to vertical surfaces.

A. allisoni is believed to have originated on Cuba but has since spread to Honduras and Half Moon Caye. This migration is believed to have occurred long ago as the different populations on these three locations display sufficient phenotypical and genetic differentiation to be considered for subspecies status. Few specimens have been identified in Mexican Banco Chinchorro island . A. allisoni has been documented in several neighborhoods within southern Florida, surviving and apparently breeding in both small parks and residential housing. This population is likely of Cuban origin and was brought to Florida as eggs accidentally ferried with plants.

The specific name, allisoni, is in honor of American philanthropist Mr. Allison Vincent Armour.