That represts a fairly recently discovered population of anoles on the rock face I was talking about in an earlier email, discovered by Wayne Van Devender from App State. It was not present on the 1980's edition of the Peterson Field Guide. Anoles have also been found on other rock faces in the western part of the state as detailed in that map.



One of the most interested things I learned when I actually started traveling to those places and herping those places is that a range map is a best guess, connect the dots, map that is a result of various localities that have been recorded through voucher specimens over time and then covered with a blanket. Because a snake or lizard falls within that estimated "range" in a field guide doesn't mean you will drive there and see it. Each species needs a specific microhabitat. At times, we are fortunate enough to find a species outside of that estimated "range" from a field guide, as I did with this scarlet snake in 2007 that represented a major range extension for the species. Time in the field, understanding of a species' need, and habitat associates help you make those kind of discoveries.



One would be hard pressed to find an eastern milk and an anole at the same locale. There are a few places where it can be done, but I would love to actually hear from a person who had done it.



Take or leave it, it's just my 2 cents worth from a guy who has actually herped that part of the world more than once...



Scarlet snake represents the range extension from 2007. The scarlet king is from eastern NC...just to keep it real for the milkheads who took time to read this...



Thanks,

Michael

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