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Anolis lizards (anoles) are textbook study organisms in evolution and ecology. Although several topics in evolutionary biology have been elucidated by the study of anoles, progress in some areas has been hampered by limited phylogenetic information on this group. Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of all 379 extant species of Anolis, with new phylogenetic data for 139 species including new DNA data for 101 species. We use the resulting estimates as a basis for defining anole clade names under the principles of phylogenetic nomenclature and to examine the biogeographic history of anoles. Our new taxonomic treatment achieves the supposed advantages of recent subdivisions of anoles that employed ranked Linnaean-based nomenclature while avoiding the pitfalls of those approaches regarding artificial constraints imposed by ranks. Our biogeographic analyses demonstrate complexity in the dispersal history of anoles, including multiple crossings of the Isthmus of Panama, two invasions of the Caribbean, single invasions to Jamaica and Cuba, and a single evolutionary dispersal from the Caribbean to the mainland that resulted in substantial anole diversity. Our comprehensive phylogenetic estimate of anoles should prove useful for rigorous testing of many comparative evolutionary hypotheses.

The rediscovery of species in iconic conservation sites like the Galápagos is eye-catching and can lead to quick and effective conservation actions. With 11 species occurring on most islands, Galápagos leaf-toed geckos ( Phyllodactylus ) are among the least known terrestrial vertebrates of the archipelago. Strikingly, reliable records of Phyllodactylus from Rábida Island prior to this study are limited to Holocene subfossils and a single photograph from 2012. Here we report the first vouchered specimens of Phyllodactylus from Rábida and present their phylogenetic and phylogeographic affinities with other gecko populations in the archipelago. Despite taxonomic uncertainty, we recognize Rábida gecko populations as a separate ESU within P. maresi , which also occurs in nearby islands (Santiago, Bartolomé, Mares), as well as in Marchena. Finally, we suggest that Rábida gecko populations benefited from the eradication of invasive rodents, which facilitated their rediscovery and the collection efforts reported here.

Although biologists have described biofluorescence in a diversity of taxa, there have been few systematic efforts to document the extent of biofluorescence within a taxonomic group or investigate its general significance. Through a field survey across South America, we discover and document patterns of biofluorescence in tropical amphibians. We more than triple the number of anuran species that have been tested for this trait. We find evidence for ecological tuning (i.e., the specific adaptation of a signal to the environment in which it is received) of the biofluorescent signals. For 56.58% of species tested, the fluorescence excitation peak matches the wavelengths most abundant at twilight, the light environment in which most frogs are active. Additionally, biofluorescence emission spans both wavelengths of low availability in twilight and the peak sensitivity of green-sensitive rods in the anuran eye, likely increasing contrast of this signal for a conspecific receiver. We propose an expanded key for testing the ecological significance of biofluorescence in future studies, providing potential explanations for the other half of fluorescent signals not originally meeting formerly proposed criteria. With evidence of tuning to the ecology and sensory systems of frogs, our results suggest frog biofluorescence is likely functioning in anuran communication. The significance of biofluorescence across taxonomic groups is understudied. Here the authors document biofluorescence in South American tropical amphibians, suggesting that biofluorescence corresponds with wavelengths of light at twilight and may be used in communication.

We describe a new species of Anolis from the southeastern slopes of the Andes of Ecuador, province of Zamora-Chinchipe, Parque Nacional Podocarpus. It belongs to (1) the aequatorialis species-group by being of moderate to large size with narrow toe lamellae, and (2) the eulaemus sub-group by having a typical Anolis digit, in which the distal lamellae of phalanx II distinctly overlap the proximal scales of phalanx I. The new species is most similar morphologically to Anolis fitchi but differs from it mainly by having a dewlap with longitudinal rows of 2-5 granular, minute scales separated by naked skin (longitudinal rows of one or two keeled, large scales separated by naked skin in Anolis fitchi) and a vertically shorter dewlap (longer dewlap in Anolis fitchi).

A new species of Anolis lizard from the Andean slopes of southwestern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, from between 1187 and 2353 m in elevation, is described. The new species can be distinguished from other Anolis in squamation, cranial osteology, hemipenial morphology, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The new species is sister to Anolisaequatorialis , and it is suggested that previous records of A.aequatorialis in Colombia correspond to the new species described herein.

Adaptive radiation is a widely recognized pattern of evolution wherein substantial phenotypic change accompanies rapid speciation. Adaptive radiation may be triggered by environmental opportunities resulting from dispersal to new areas or via the evolution of traits, called key innovations, that allow for invasion of new niches. Species sampling is a known source of bias in many comparative analyses, yet classic adaptive radiations have not been studied comparatively with comprehensively sampled phylogenies. In this study, we use unprecedented comprehensive phylogenetic sampling of Anolis lizard species to examine comparative evolution in this well-studied adaptive radiation. We compare adaptive radiation models within Anolis and in the Anolis clade and a potential sister lineage, the Corytophanidae. We find evidence for island (i.e., opportunity) effects and no evidence for trait (i.e., key innovation) effects causing accelerated body size evolution within Anolis. However, island effects are scale dependent: when Anolis and Corytophanidae are analyzed together, no island effect is evident. We find no evidence for an island effect on speciation rate and tenuous evidence for greater speciation rate due to trait effects. These results suggest the need for precision in treatments of classic adaptive radiations such as Anolis and further refinement of the concept of adaptive radiation.

We describe a new species of Anolis from the Andes of northern Peru. This form is similar to species formerly assigned to the genus Phenacosaurus and to Ernest Williams’ tigrinus series. That is, the new species possesses large smooth headscales, cryptic coloration, and short limbs and tail. We present new DNA and morphological data and perform a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Dactyloa clade of Anolis. The new species is estimated to be close to phenotypically similar species from Peru and Venezuela. We revise the taxonomy of Dactyloa based on our estimate. Most previously recognized phylogenetically defined groups are retained with restricted species contents. Several species currently scorable only for morphological data could not be placed in any group with confidence. The species status of the enigmatic mainland form Anolis deltae should be re-examined with reference to the roquet group of southern Lesser Antillean Anolis.

We report the first record of the invasive Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei Duméril & Bibron, 1837, in South America based on nine specimens from Samborondón, Guayas province, Ecuador. We also present some information related to the current distribution in Ecuador, and its possible impacts on native lizard species.