The distribution of Cuban Brown Anoles, Anolis sagrei (Squamata: Dactyloidae), in Mexico, with new records and comments on ecological interactions

Abstract

The Cuban Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is native to the Bahamas, the Cuba Archipelago, and Little Cayman, but is now among the world’s most widely distributed invasive lizards. In Mexico, the species has been reported from the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Jalisco, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Yucatán. However, no complete compendium exists summarizing the locality-level distribution of A. sagrei in Mexico. Herein we provide an exhaustive compilation of vouchered Mexican specimens based on museum records and the literature. Supplementing this review are reports of five new localities for A. sagrei in Veracruz and Tabasco. We conclude with brief comments on the potential ecological effects of this species in Mexico.