Anolis altavelensis
Photo: (c) Judá Isaí Martínez Uribe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Judá Isaí Martínez Uribe
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Anolis altavelensis faces severe habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted range in the Dominican Republic. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with deforestation for cattle ranching and crop cultivation fragmenting its remaining forest habitat. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that could affect the species' thermal ecology and prey availability.
Habitat
This critically endangered anole inhabits dry forests and scrubland areas in the Dominican Republic, typically found in areas with rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation. The species appears to prefer semi-arid environments with scattered trees and shrubs that provide both basking sites and shelter.
