Anolis distichus is a small lizard with a snout to vent length of up to 58 mm for males and 48 mm for females (Scwartz & Henderson, 1991). It has 0-2 scales between interparietal and supraorbital semicircles; 0-2 scales in contact with interparietal; 0-1 scales between supraorbital semicircles; 2-12 postmentals; 2-3 scales in lateral contact with postfrontals; preoccipital (perinterparietal) is variable (by population), more frequently present but sometimes absent (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).
Snout scales are rectangular to subquadrate, generally paired with 1-14 azygous scales present; dorsal scales granular; ventral scales smooth and imbricate; supra-digial scales smooth; tail compressed, verticillate, 9 rows of scales/verticil, 5 enlarged scales/verticil middorsally (Scwartz & Henderson, 1991).
Some subspecies capable of green-brown metachrosis, dorsum is variable, ranging in colours including tans, grays, browns, yellows and greens and may included marbling within the listed colour types. Patterns may be longitudinally striate, at times with a rather bold, wide lateral stripe (continuation of a white labial stripe). Four dark dorsal chevrons are sometimes present. Also sometimes present but often absent is a basic head pattern consisting of a dark interocular bar and a dark occipital \"U\" or \"V\" (Scwartz & Henderson, 1991).
The underside of the tail is orange to yellow or yellowish green; dewlap is also variable ranging from yellows to reds including oranges sometimes being practically white (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).

The following subspecies have been identified: Anolis distichus distichus Cope, 1861; Anolis distichus aurifer Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus biminiensis Oliver, 1948; Anolis distichus dapsilis Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus distichoides Rosen, 1911; Anolis distichus dominicensis Reinhardt & Lütken, 1863; Anolis distichus favillarum Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus floridanus Smith & McCauley, 1948; Anolis distichus ignigularis Mertens, 1939; Anolis distichus juliae Cochran, 1934; Anolis distichus ocior Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus patruelis Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus properus Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus ravitergum Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus sejunctus Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus suppar Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus tostus Schwartz, 1968; Anolis distichus vinosus Schwartz, 1968.\n

Anolis distichus is a trunk anoline found on trees (Especially Cocos, Lysiloma and Terminalia), on fence posts, in open agricultural areas and in forest edges; mesic oases in otherwise xeric regions (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).

Anolis distichus has been observed snapping tiny insects off the surface of bark; it is also capable of distinguishing and rejecting some potential prey items (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).

Monitoring: Sampling for non-native reptiles in Miami-Dade County parks including Anolis distichus was carried out by searching quadrats for reptiles by turning rocks, logs, and other debris; inspecting solution holes; raking through debris, soil, and rock rubble with a potato rake; and peeling loose bark off pine snags (Enge et al., 2004).