Cristóbal Colón visited Jamaica on his second and fourth voyage to the Americas and had named the island Santiago. The Arawak people, the first known inhabitants of the island, referred to their homeland as “Xamayca,” meaning “Island of Springs.” Jamaica is the third largest island in the West Indies.
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Anolis garmani - The Jamaican giant anole is an arboreal lizard. It grows to lengths of 30 centimeters with 2/3’s consisting of tail length; females tend to be slightly smaller. The giant anole is bright green in color, but can turn brown during the process of metachrosis, a camouflage process to blend in with its surrounding. Both sexes have large dewlaps, a fold of skin under the chin. When threatened, the lizard can extend this flap; it provides the animal with a larger appearance. Males sport a dorsal crest of high pointed scales.
