THE LIZARD SCIENTISTS

A veteran science writer reports on some surprising recent discoveries about evolution and adaptation made by researchers studying the small tropical lizards called anoles.

Experiments and observations reveal that the tree-dwelling lizards, when placed in new habitats, begin to show physical changes in as little as four years—and if the news is buried in rather dry and repetitive observations about convergent evolution and ecomorphic differences in leg length and toepads, it should still make readers interested in evolutionary theory sit up and take notice. Though the photos are usually a strong point of this much-lauded series, here they, too, underperform, since, aside from a few close-up views to show colorful dewlaps and scale patterns, the dull brown or green reptiles make inconspicuous visual subjects. Still, in line with the series premise, Patent introduces several zoologists studying anoles both in the Caribbean and in the Miami area (most relatively young and including at least one who is a person of color) who explain their projects, and she also highlights an ongoing grassroots initiative dubbed “Lizards on the Loose” that enlists students in southern Florida to track anole populations.

One of the series’ weaker entries, its appeal more intellectual than visceral.