{{Short description|Species of lizard}} {{Speciesbox | image = Anolis acutus.png | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name = iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Platenberg, R. |author-link=Renata J. Platenberg |author2=Mahler, D.L. |author2-link=D. Luke Mahler |year=2020 |title=''Anolis acutus'' |article-number=e.T74994359A75171371 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T74994359A75171371.en |access-date=8 July 2025}}</ref> | genus = Anolis | species = acutus | authority = Hallowell, 1856 }}
'''''Anolis acutus'''''), the '''St. Croix's anole''' or '''sharp anole''', is a species of lizard belonging to the family Dactyloidae, the anoles. This is an arboreal lizard which is endemic to the islands of the Saint Croix bank in the United States Virgin Islands.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ruibal|first1=Rodolfo|last2=Philibosian|first2=Richard|last3=Adkins|first3=Janet L.|date=1972|title=Reproductive Cycle and Growth in the Lizard Anolis acutus|jstor=1442923|journal=Copeia|volume=1972|issue=3|pages=509–518|doi=10.2307/1442923}}</ref>
==Taxonomy== ''Anolis acutus'' was first formally described in 1856 by the American herpetologist and physician Edward Hallowell with its type locality given as "''Cuba?''".<ref name = Hallowell>{{cite journal | journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia | title=Notes on the Reptiles in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philad'a | volume=8 | pages=221–238 | publisher=Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia | date= 1856 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/12109}}</ref> Later the type locality was designated as Christiansted on St Croix by James D. Lazell Jr..<ref name = Lazell>{{cite journal |author1=Lazell, James D. | journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College | title=The Anoles (Sauria, Iguanidae) of the Lesser Antilles | volume=143 | pages=1–115 | publisher=The Museum | date= 1972 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/16913}}</ref> This species is in the ''A. cristatellus'' species complex of the genus ''Anolis'' which is classified in the family Dactyloidae.<ref name = RDB>{{cite web |url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Anolis&species=acutus&search_param=%28%28genus%3D%27Anolis%27%29%28species%3D%27acutus%27%29%29 |title=''Anolis acutus'' HALLOWELL, 1856 |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=The Reptile Database}}</ref>
==Description== ''Anolis acutus'' are a uniform tan to olive in color. The chinflaps are white with a sizeable yellowish-orange blotch near to the body. The males have an average SVL of {{cvt|67|mm}} while in females it is around {{cvt|49|mm}}.<ref name = Connor>{{cite web |url=https://www.anoleannals.org/2021/10/08/didyouanole-anolis-acutus/ |title=#DidYouAnole – ''Anolis acutus'' |author=Chelsea Connor |date=8 October 2021 |access-date=8 July 2025 |website=Anole Annals}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Anolis acutus'' is found only on the island of St Croix, and the adjacent islets of Buck Island, Protestant Cay and Green Cay in the United States Virgin Islands. It is found in dry to mesic forest, pastures with scattered trees and residential areas.<ref name = iucn/>
==Biology== ''Anolis acutus'' are arboreal perching on trees, bushes and other elevated sites from just above the ground up to {{cvt|3|m}}. The adults exclude juveniles from trees.<ref name = iucn/> These are territorial lizrds and, if an adult is removed from its tree, it will become agitated until it is returned or it is replaced by another adult.<ref name = Connor/> The St Croix anole is oviparous.<ref name = RDB/> These lizards are diurnal, being active from just prior to dawn to just after dusk with no activity or basking peaks.<ref name = ecology>{{cite journal |author1=Rodolfo Ruibal |author2=Richard Philibosian |year=1974 |title=The Population Ecology of the Lizard Anolis Acutus |doi=10.2307/1935144 |journal=Ecology |volume=55 |issue=3 |pages=525–537 |jstor=1935144 |bibcode=1974Ecol...55..525R }} {{subscription required}}</ref> The females can breed throughout the year but there is less breeding activity in January to April, with most breeding being conducted in the months with higher rainfall. The females lay a single egg at atime, burying it in sand or gavelly soil, the eggs hatch in around 14 days.<ref name = Copeia>{{cite journal |author1=Ruibal, R. |author2=Philibosian, R. |author3=Adkins, J. L. |year=1972 |title=Reproductive Cycle and Growth in the Lizard ''Anolis acutus'' |journal=Copeia |volume=1972 |issue=3| pages=509–518 |doi=10.2307/1442923 |jstor=1442923 }}</ref>
==See also== *List of ''Anolis'' lizards
==References== {{Wikispecies|Anolis acutus}} {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1446081}}
A Category:Arboreal reptiles Category:Lizards of the Caribbean Category:Endemic fauna of the United States Virgin Islands Category:Reptiles of the United States Virgin Islands Category:Reptiles described in 1856 Category:Taxa named by Edward Hallowell (herpetologist)