Anoles - Green Anole Hunting Tedhniques

Your Reptile and Amphibian Resource and Information Site

Back to Anoles Forum Forums Home Members Area

Anoles Forum

Atrax27407 Coolguy132435 Anolecarer TwilightRealm TwilightRealm TwilightRealm TwilightRealm TwilightRealm Atrax27407

Member

Message

#1761521

Atrax27407
View Profile

Green Anole Hunting Tedhniques

Green Anole Hunting Techniques

There are a lot of reasons to vary your Anole’s diet. Although the primary reason is for varied and complete nutrition, another reason is for exercise and fitness. If you give your Anole a constant diet of slow and easily caught insects, they become sluggish and may even become obese. The reason is that Anole’s tailor their hunting techniques to suit the prey they are pursuing. After observing both captive and wild Anoles for a number of years, I have been able to break them down into three basic techniques.

1) The first is the one that they use most frequently. It is the “mugger” approach. This is used for any prey insect that is slower than the Anole (which is most of them). When the Anole sees the prey. It simply makes a mad dash for the insect and grabs it. There is no attempt at stealth or concealment and no attempt to trick the insect. Anoles also use this technique with flying insects such as moths. Instead of a short lunge, they might make a leap at the moth and snatch it off a leaf or the top of the enclosure.

2) The next method of attack is one that Anoles use when pursuing prey that is very slow moving or stationary. This is a “slow stalk” technique. The Anole will slowly stalk the prey item, using concealment and stealth. The item will be stalked until the Anole is within an inch or so of the insect at which point it will stop completely. The Anole will watch the prey insect for a few seconds to 30 seconds or more and, triggered by the slightest movement, will grab it. This method is also used for insects that are unfamiliar to the Anole. Often, if it doesn’t recognize the prey insect either as prey or in not familiar with it, it will use this technique. It is also used extensively on moths that have landed on a leaf or very slow moving caterpillars.

3) The third technique is a pure ambush technique. This is used primarily to catch insects that are generally much too fast for the Anole to actively pursue. The most common objects of this type of attack are flies (either Houseflies or similar prey). There is absolutely no way that an Anole would be able to run down and catch a fly unless the fly was unfortunate enough to land right next to the Anole. The Anole seems to know this so he uses a pure ambush approach. He will find a post in a flight path either near where flies are going for food or just a high vantage point where they frequently pass. The Anole will remain motionless and, in fact, may appear totally disinterested in passing flies. However, when a fly passes within striking range (which is usually between ½ and one inch) the Anole springs into action. The Anole will snatch the passing fly out of the air.

In summary, to keep your captive Anole healthy and fit, you should feed it a variety of prey items so that it exercises all aspects of its hunting ability. Not only will it keep its reflexes sharp but it will also keep it entertained. With varied nutrition and exercise, your Anole will live a long and healthy life.

06/15/08 10:22am

#1762023

Coolguy132435
View Profile

Message To: Atrax27407 In reference to Message Id: 1761521

Green Anole Hunting Tedhniques

my favorite is the slow stalk that my knight anole uses. She creeps towards a cricket like a chameleon until she is right next to it, then she simply grabs the prey. I witnessed her take up to two minutes or more at times once she has spotted prey.

06/15/08 07:33pm