Proboscis anole

Anolis proboscis

Range

Known from the Pacific-facing Andean slopes of northwestern Ecuador. Reported Peruvian occurrences remain uncertain and should not be presented as established.

Habitat

Uses lower-montane evergreen forest and adjacent wooded edges, including scattered trees and rural vegetation. It is predominantly arboreal.

Facts

• Adult males carry a long, fleshy nasal appendage that projects upward, while females lack it.
• Females can be separated from the similar A. gemmosus by their smaller, less colorful throat fan, reduced ear opening, and a conspicuous central back crest made of enlarged triangular scales.
• The male has a flexible fleshy snout appendage used in social display; females lack this horn.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• ReptTraits — Anolis proboscis
• Redescription of Anolis proboscis Peters & Orcés, with the discovery of the females and comments on distribution and taxonomy
• The Reptile Database
• Reptiles of Ecuador, Alejandro Arteaga and cited research