Lounging lizards

I was not able to find any native frogs in the garden.  Consequently, it may be too late to help the native frog community by actively removing Cuban tree frogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis).  Yet, native frogs are not the only ones threatened by Cuban tree frogs.  Among the many other types of prey that Cuban tree frogs consume are lizards.  Nevertheless, despite the presence of several very large Cuban tree frogs, anoles were extremely abundant in the garden this winter. 

A Cuban brown anole (Anolis sagrei).

Unfortunately, the majority of these anoles belonged to another species introduced from Cuba: the Cuban brown anole (Anolis sagrei).  This anole has itself played a large role in displacing native anole species.  The second most common anole was also a non-native: the bark anole (Anolis distichus), which has been introduced to Florida from the Caribbean.

Another anole, probably a bark anole (Anolis distichus).

I did find one native species persisting: the Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis).  However, this species was quite rare compared to the two introduced species pictured above.

A Carolina anole (Anolis carolinensis) on a palm frond.

Given this composition of the anole community, it is not clear to me whether removing Cuban tree frogs would improve or worsen the situation for the native anoles.  Removing the native anoles' predators might simply increase the number of their competitors.