Results: Gorgona Island: the Blue Anoles

(Souce: news.mongabay.com) The blue anole is truly stunning to behold–it is pure blue, with no color differentiation between males and females. The largest visual distinction is the male's dewlap, like other anole species, except in this case the dewlap is bright white, making the blue contrast ever more dramatic. In spite of this striking color, few humans have been lucky enough to spot the world's only pure blue lizard. Have you ever been close to one of these unique lizards?

Approximately 35 miles off the Pacific coast of Colombia lies Gorgona, an island with a unique past and an uncertain future. A high security prison colony was maintained on the island beginning in the 1950s until its closure in 1984. Because the island is separated from the mainland by an underwater depression 270 meters deep, Gorgona maintains some endemic biodiversity. In 1985, the island reemerged as a national park to protect the rare species that thrived in the delicate ecosystem. Did you ever visit this island?

The primary threats appear to be habitat destruction through deforestation and over-collection by zealous admirers of the beautiful and uniquely colored lizard. Deforestation is a particular threat as the blue anole is an arboreal species, with only the females venturing to the forest floor on the occasion to deposit their eggs. Blue can be seen in birds and fish a lot. Can you mention another truly blue animal?

Given the restricted geographic distribution and obvious aesthetic appeal of the blue anole, the species may be a good candidate for a captive breeding program that could also reap rewards for Gorgona's other species. Under a carefully managed system, a limited number of blue anoles could be auctioned to the public to finance conservation and rehabilitation efforts on Gorgona. The blue anole would serve as a charismatic example of a flagship species that could ensure the preservation of ecosystems on the island. Knowing that this is a quite elusive lizard, and scientists do not know much about them, do you think that this project could be helpful to save the lizards?