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The Dactyloidae are a family of lizards commonly known as anoles . The NCBI places the anole in subfamily Polychrotinae of the family Iguanidae.〔(NCBI Taxonomy Browser )〕 The family is generally considered to be monotypic, containing only the genus ''Anolis''; however recent genetic research has identified several clades within ''Anolis'' which may sometimes be elevated to generic status. These clades are: ''Dactyloa'', ''Deiroptyx'', ''Ctenonotus'', ''Xiphosurus'', ''Norops'', ''Chamaelinorops'', ''Anolis'' (exclusive of the other recognized monophyletic clades) and ''Audantia''. The taxon ''Polychrus'' was previously also placed in the family under the family name Polychrotidae; however recent genetic studies confirm that ''Polychrus'' is not a sister to ''Anolis'' and is in fact more closely related to Hoplocercidae. Therefore, Polychrotidae has been restricted to containing only ''Polychrus''. Due to their ability to change color, anolis (anole) lizards are frequently referred to as American chameleons. Anolis lizards also share many characteristics with geckos. However anoles are not closely related to either of those groups, they are most closely related to iguanas. Anoles share many anotomical features with arboreal iguanas. These simalirities include skeletal structure and nearly identical foot structure. ==Characteristics and distribution== Anoles are small and common lizards that can be found throughout the southeastern United States and at least as far west as San Antonio and Texas Hill Country, the Caribbean, Mexico, and various other warm regions of the Western world. A large majority of them sport a green coloration, including the only species native to the United States, the aptly named green anole. The green anole ( and many other anoles ) can change its color based on stress level, sun/light exposure and it's surrounding. Although their color changing ability is very limited, often anoles are only able to change one color. Anoles are a very diverse and plentiful group of lizards, and about 372 species are known. The knight, green, bark, Jamaican giant, and Cuban brown anoles can all be found in the United States, primarily in Florida. The most prevalent of these species by far is the Cuban brown anole, which has pushed the native green (or "Carolina") anole population farther north. When green anoles and brown anoles inhabit the same area, the brown anoles are primarily terrestrial or restrict themselves to the lower branches of bushes, while the green anoles stay higher. Brown anoles have also spread into East Texas. At a nursery in the Heights neighborhood of Houston, Texas, a stable population has established itself, hatchlings having been observed in the spring of 2005.〔(The Illustrated Encyclopedia of North American Reptiles and Amphibians: An Essential Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of USA ), Canada, and Mexico. MobileReference, 2009. ISBN 1605014591〕 While nearly all anoles can change their color, the extent and variations of this ability differ widely throughout the individual species. For example, the green anole can change its color from a bright, leafy green to a dull brown color, while the Cuban brown can only change its shade of brown, along with the patterns on its back. Many anoles are between eight and 18 cm (3–7 in) in length. Some larger species, such as the knight anole, can surpass ; some males of the knight anole species can even reach in length. Anoles' diets include live insects and other invertebrates, with crickets, spiders, and moths being some of the most commonly consumed prey. They have been seen to eat butterflies. Anoles are opportunistic feeders, and may attempt to eat any attractive meal that is small enough. The primary foods for captive anoles are small feeder crickets that can be purchased at most pet stores. These subtropical lizards are semiarboreal. They usually inhabit regions around high. Shrubs, walls, fences, bushes, and short trees are common hiding places. Most anoles are said to live between four and eight years. Even anoles captured from the wild can live for several years if given acceptable living space and cared for properly; a healthy anole in captivity, being free from predators and natural disaster, may live well beyond seven years. Some anoles may even reach 14 years with careful and proper care. Breeding occurs for several months beginning in late spring. Males employ head bobbing and dewlap extension in courtship. One or two small, soft-shelled eggs are laid among leaf litter. More clutches may be laid before mating season has ended. Anoles have many readily identifiable features. They have dewlaps, made of erectile cartilage, that extend from their neck/throat areas. The dewlap may serve as a signal for attracting mates, winning contests, and communicating condition. Underneath an anoles toes are pads that have several to a dozen flaps of skin going horizontally covered in microscopic hairlike protrusions that allow them to cling to many different surfaces. ( much like that of a gecko ) Also, their tails have the ability to break off at special segments to escape predators. The tail continues to wriggle strongly for some minutes after detaching. This ability is known as autotomy. Anoles are also diurnal - active during the daytime. Some species of anoles exhibit sexual dimorphism, which allows one to discern between males and females fairly easily with the naked eye. In green anoles, the female is characterized by a pale dorsal stripe extending from the neck to the tail, a generally smaller body, and a smaller head with a shorter snout. Female brown anoles share these characteristics, although their dorsal stripes are often wider, with diamond-shaped or squiggly edges. This stripe may be present sometimes in males, especially young ones not yet fully grown, but it is always fainter with less-defined edges. Some females have small dewlaps (pale and much smaller than those of the males). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dactyloidae」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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