Eric and I recently returned from Forfar Field Station, where we collected from another population of brown anoles to add to our study on the genetics of sexual dimorphism. In contrast to San Salvador, an island with large males where we collected last year, Andros has relatively smaller males. Learning from our experience in San Salvador, we came equipped with brand new headlamps for night catching. However, we soon learned that the habitat on Andros, where trees are plentiful, did not lend itself to catching during the daytime. Unlike San Salvador, the lizards were very easy to spot and catch during the day, so we didn’t need the headlamps at all. (The Bahamian customs office, however, decided to impose a hefty duty on us!)
We had help from the field station’s director’s son, who could catch lizards by hand, and a local middle-school-aged boy who became very skilful with a lizard noose. One local woman helped us out immensely with her lizard-spotting skills, walking us around her yard and pointing out lizard after lizard that our anole-focused eyes had missed. Thanks to everyone who made this successful trip possible.
Photos by Eric Wice.