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Anole lizards vision: the science and the numbers

Anolis sagrei · Reptiles: all the numbers

The anole lizards has four colour channels, including ultraviolet (365, 460, 495 and 567 nm).[1] The anole lizards stops seeing flicker at 34.6 Hz, against 60 Hz for people.[26][27]

See it on your photoBack to How does the anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) see?
  • 4colour receptor classesMeasured
  • 34.6hertz flicker fusion (motion)Measured

The anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) is a reptile. Its eyes belong to the vision type Diurnal reptile tetrachromat: four cone types including ultraviolet, coloured oil droplets and one or more foveas. Measured in this species: colour, night vision and motion (flicker fusion). Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What the anole lizards sees: colour receptors

Anole lizards colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmAnole lizards: 4 receptor peaks at 365, 460, 495, 567 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Anole lizards: 365, 460, 495, 567 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • It has 4 colour receptor classes, including ultraviolet; people have 3.
  • It stops seeing flicker at 34.6 Hz, against 60 Hz for people in this dataset, so fast motion looks choppier to it.[28][26]
  • Activity pattern: diurnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the anole lizards (Anolis sagrei) (Anolis sagrei), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
4 receptor classes: 365 nm (UVS), 460 nm (SWS (blue)), 495 nm (MWS (green)), 567 nm (LWS (long))
measured in this species
Measured[1]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[1][2][3][4]
Ultraviolet
yes: at least one receptor peaks in the ultraviolet		Measured
SharpnessNo value in the catalogue.Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[5][6]
Field of viewNo value in the catalogue.Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[7][8]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[9]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[9]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[7][8]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
2
mode of species-v1 relatives in family Dactyloidae: Anolis carolinensis
Estimated[10]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[11]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[11]
Fovea type
central fovea, temporal		Estimated[10]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 7 rows (of 7 rows): Diurnal; diurnal
Measured (not re-verified)[12][13][14][1][15][16][17]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[12][18][19][1][20][21][22][17]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[23][24]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[25]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[12][18][19][1][20][21][22][17]
Rods vs cones
cone-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[12][13][14][1][15][16][17]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
34.6 Hz
median of 2 bright-light rows (behavioural/whole-eye ERG rows; all rows: [34.4, 34.9])
Measured[26][27]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[28][26]

All reptiles side by side: Reptiles: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Longcore 2023
  2. Kirwan
  3. Müller et al. 2009
  4. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  5. Kirk et al. 2004
  6. Veilleux et al. 2014
  7. Heesy 2004
  8. Heffner et al. 1992
  9. Campbell & Green 1965
  10. Fleishman et al. 1988 / Makaretz & Levine 1980
  11. Kopania et al. 2025
  12. Anderson et al. 2017
  13. Angielczyk et al. 2014
  14. Choiniere et al. 2021
  15. Schmitz et al. 2011
  16. Meiri 2024. SquamBase: a database of…
  17. Moura et al. 2024
  18. Borges et al. 2018
  19. Wilman et al. 2014
  20. Maor et al. 2017
  21. Jones et al. 2009
  22. Schmitz et al. 2011
  23. Banks et al. 2015
  24. Cervino et al. 2021
  25. Guareschi et al. 2025
  26. Inger et al. 2014
  27. Lafitte et al. 2022
  28. Healy et al. 2013

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.