Category Archives: Animals

Anole in a window

There’s a window in the house that doesn’t get opened much and this anole took up residence between the window and the screen. Actually, three or four smaller ones live in there too. At night, they disappear up into the window frame. In the morning they come down and warm up in the sun. This big guy ventures out, coming and going in one corner of the window where the screen is loose.

It’s a green anole (officially called the Carolina anole) despite its brown coloration. Green anoles can turn brown, but brown anoles can’t turn green. Life is unfair.

And, yes, the window and screen look grimy. They have since been washed. The anoles weren’t best pleased, but quickly settled back into their routines once I was done.

For more information about green anoles, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_anole.

“I’m coming out. I don’t want any trouble.”

A young gold dust day gecko emerges, with some trepidation, from between weathered boards on the lanai.

For more information about geckos, go to geckoweb.org.

Gold dust day gecko on a pink banana

Gold dust day geckos are not endemic to Hawaii. A native of Madagascar, Hawaii’s population stems from the release of 8 geckos by a student on the University of Hawaii campus in 1974. It’s not known if beer was involved.

While this makes the gold dust day gecko something of an invasive species, it’s hard to feel bitter about such an endearing little creature. With their striking coloration, they can be seen sticking to any surface or zipping about whether they’re right side up or upside down. They’re not bothered by close examination, usually just staring back with a goofy expression. Turn away though, and they can be gone in an instant.

This gecko was engrossed by the potential of this pink banana. Not sure if it was looking for water, nectar, or the possibility of insects within.

For more information about this and other geckos, go to geckoweb.org.

Abstracts: Flies on a horse

What can I say? I liked the contrast of the horse hair, the flies and the shadow made by the barbed wire fence.

Praying mantis

Praying mantis are fairly common around here, though they can be difficult to spot since they blend in so well on various plants. This one wasn’t hard to spot for obvious reasons.