Anolis nelsoni
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Anolis nelsoni faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development on Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to introduced predators, especially cats and rats, which prey on both adults and eggs. Hurricane damage and climate change-induced weather extremes pose additional risks to the remaining forest fragments that support this critically endangered anole.
Habitat
Anolis nelsoni inhabits dry coastal forests and scrubland vegetation on Mona Island, preferring areas with dense canopy cover and rocky outcrops. The species is typically found in the remaining native forest patches at elevations up to 60 meters above sea level.