Anolis richardii (Richard’s Anole). Clawlessness

Abstract

On 12 August 1992, Kevin de Queiroz and Jonathan B. Losos collected a series of 15 Anolis richardii on the SW coast of Grand Anse Bay, Saint George Parish, Grenada, of which one adult female (USNM 321805) lacks claws. In 2023, we obtained radiographic images of the specimen. The radiographs revealed that, in addition to the lack of claws, the specimen lacks all or nearly all (some minute ossifications may be vestiges) of the ungual (terminal, ultimate) phalanges, which are normally invested by the claws. Consequently, the phalangeal formulae are: 1-2-3-4-2 for the manus (hand) and 1-2-3-4-3 for the pes (foot), rather than the usual 2-3-4-5-3 for the manus and 2-3-4-5-4 for the pes.