Suspected hypovitaminosis A in a colony of captive green anoles (Anolis carolinensis)

In a colony of 18 preen anoles (Anolis carolinensis), 3 animals experienced focally thickened lips, ulcerative cheilitis, lethargy, depression, and we ight loss over a 5-month period. In addition to crickets fed fresh fruit an d leafy green vegetables, the diet of the green anoles consisted of a suppl y of mealworms that had been dusted with a commercial liquid vitamin supple ment. The history, clinical findings, and histopathologic lesions were sugg estive of hypovitaminosis A, which is known to cause sqnamous metaplasia of the mucus secreting glands and epithelial surfaces in many species.