Carolina Anole

[Marcepstein]

The Carolina Anole (Anolis carolinensis) has color transition ability somewhat like a chameleon. I crawled very slowly towards the Anole handholding an EOS 1DM4, ef100mm macro and flash attached. A longer telephoto macro lens would have made it easier and not spook the Anole. I didn't think of using the ef100-400mm lens with an extension tube or closeup lens at the time but the weight would have been harsh. I was trying to get closeups of the colorful scales.

[MarkSturtevant]

Very nice! I bet a very close crop of the scales would turn out nice as well.

[Marcepstein]

Very nice! I bet a very close crop of the scales would turn out nice as well.

Thanks, Mark. Good suggestion on the crop. Here are a few. I had to review some Herp text to get up-to-speed on scale anatomy of the Carolina anole. They are epidermal, overlapping smooth and rounded (cycloid). They become part of the outer skin which shed (ecdysis) and consumed, maybe as they grow. The ones around the eye move with the eye (circumorbital). On the 2nd image, there is a clear shot of the auditory opening and the eardrum (tympanum) within. The stapes bone would be just behind it.

[WojTek]

Great, my favorite photo is the last one

[Marcepstein]

Great, my favorite photo is the last one

Thanks, WojTek!

[bobfriedman]

Wow... Congratulations on image of the month..

[Marcepstein]

Wow... Congratulations on image of the month..

Thanks, Bob.