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Green anole vision: the science and the numbers

Anolis carolinensis · Reptiles: all the numbers

Green anoles have four colour channels, including ultraviolet (365, 462, 503 and 625 nm).[1] Green anoles stop seeing flicker at 34.6 Hz, against 60 Hz for people.[28][29]

See it on your photoBack to How do green anoles see?
  • 4colour receptor classesMeasured
  • 34.6hertz flicker fusion (motion)Measured

The green anole (Anolis carolinensis) 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, foveas, 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 green anoles see: colour receptors

Green anole colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmGreen anole: 4 receptor peaks at 365, 462, 503, 625 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Green anole: 365, 462, 503, 625 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.[30][28]
  • 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 green anole (Anolis carolinensis), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
4 receptor classes: 365 nm (UVS), 462 nm (SWS (blue)), 503 nm (MWS (green)), 625 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
species-v1.csv text: 2 (central + temporal foveae)
Measured[10][11]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[12]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[12]
Fovea type
central fovea, temporal		Measured[10][11]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 7 rows (of 7 rows): Diurnal; diurnal
Measured (not re-verified)[13][14][15][1][16][17][18]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[13][19][20][1][21][22][23][18]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[24][25]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[26]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[13][19][20][1][21][22][23][18]
Pupil shape
round (or oval)		Group default[24][27]
Rods vs cones
cone-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[13][14][15][1][16][17][18]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
34.6 Hz
median of 2 bright-light rows (behavioural/whole-eye ERG rows; all rows: [34.55, 34.6])
Measured[28][29]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[30][28]

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. Rasys et al. 2024
  11. Fleishman et al. 1988 / Makaretz & Levine 1980
  12. Kopania et al. 2025
  13. Anderson et al. 2017
  14. Angielczyk et al. 2014
  15. Choiniere et al. 2021
  16. Schmitz et al. 2011
  17. Meiri 2024. SquamBase: a database of…
  18. Moura et al. 2024
  19. Borges et al. 2018
  20. Wilman et al. 2014
  21. Maor et al. 2017
  22. Jones et al. 2009
  23. Schmitz et al. 2011
  24. Banks et al. 2015
  25. Cervino et al. 2021
  26. Guareschi et al. 2025
  27. Oskyrko et al. 2024
  28. Inger et al. 2014
  29. Lafitte et al. 2022
  30. 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.