We interrupt the birds to bring you a special episode of…

LIZARDS IN A TREE

I witnessed an epic showdown in a gumbo limbo yesterday between a couple of Cuban knight anoles.

Face off.

These guys are the largest members of the anole family, and can grow to 20 inches long.

It’s on!

“I’m biting your face!”

“No, I’m biting your face!”

Territorial disputes appear to be settled not mano a mano but mouth to mouth, or boca a boca I guess!

Cuban knight anoles are native to Cuba but are colonizing the warmer regions of Florida after escape/ release from pet stores and pet owners.

I watched and photographed these two for about 10 minutes.

The knight anole (Anolis equestris) is the largest species of anole lizard in the Dactyloidae family. Other common names include Cuban knight anole or Cuban giant anole, highlighting its native country, but it has also been introduced to Florida. In Florida they are sometimes referred to as “iguanas” or “iguanitos”, but this generally stems from confusion with the green iguana. In its native Cuba, this large anole is called chipojo.

Fierce creatures they are!

I went and got my husband at our house half a block away to show him the jousting knights and when we got back to the tree there was just one lizard, presumably the victor. All hale, king of the tree!