So called because of their prevalence and conspicuous distribution island wide, the common lizard is of the order Squamata and a member of the Anole family of lizards. Common lizard is the local name given to this specie but they are formally known more widely as brown anole. Anoles are common to the Americas and are typically small lizards that are good climbers and with a flap of loose skin in the region of their throat called a dewlap. However, the sexual dimorphism that exist between sexes of this specie is such that only the males present a dewlap which is used to attract mates and also to intimidate away perceived threats. This intimidatory action is the first line of defence and is the same whether the threat is from a rival male lizard are say a person that gets too close for comfort. The lizard fans out its dewlap and performs an up and down motion with its upper body. Failing to repel the threat the lizard resorts to a physical encounter with the intruding lizard but would simply flee in the case of an intruding person giving credence to the fact that they are harmless to people.
Phylum (Division): Chordate
Class: Reptile
Order: Squamata (lizard)
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Dactyloidae
Genus: Anolis
