The Changing Colors of Kiawah ’ s Wildlife
By Christine Sudell
From the camellia blossoms of winter to the
riotous colors brought by spring and summer flowers to fall ’ s purple-topped sweetgrass , changes in Kiawah ’ s landscape are hard to miss . But did you know that many of Kiawah ’ s fauna also change their colors ?
Perhaps the first to come to mind is the anole , a true quick-change artist . This cute little lizard can change from bright green to brown within the blink of an eye . But contrary to common belief , it doesn ’ t do this to blend in with its surroundings . Instead , the anole ’ s color changes reflect several factors , including stress , temperature , and aggression , with green being its usual color . One study found that during a fight between two males , the combatants ’ colors changed frequently . At the end , the winner was usually green and the loser brown .
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Photo by Kathy Keane