Anolis garmani is a large lizard with snout to vent length up to 131 mm for males and 80 mm for females (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991). It has 2 -3 scales between supraorbitals; 2 - 4 between the interparieal and supraorbital semicircles; 6 postrostrals; 4 postmentals; and suboculars in contact with suoralabials (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).
Dorsals and lateral scales are swollen, keeled and either no smaller or a little smaller than ventrals. A distinct dorsal crest is present in males with high, pointed scales. Females lack this crest but have one or more rows of middorsals almost always distinctly elongate, often with raised keels, especially in the nuchal region (Schwarz & Henderson, 1991). Ventrals are not or very slightly keeled and smooth, nonimbricating, arranged in tansverse rows that tend to continue onto sides. Supradigital scales are usually smooth but can be vaguely keeled or wrinkled on rare occasion (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991). Tail is verticillate with 3 dorsal an 3 venral scales/verticil; tail dorsals have strongly raised keels that continue along dorsal body crest onto tail (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).
Dorsum is bright emerald-green, but in the intermediate phase of metachrosis may have oblique, straw-coloured bars or spots on the sides. In the dark phase of metachrosis, colour is uniform and very dark brown or black. The dewlap in A. garmani is orange with a greenish yellow border (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991). The emerald green to black coloration, and orange and green dewlap pattern are what distinguishes the Jamaican giant anole from the other Jamaican anoles (Reptiles Database 2010).

Large green anole lizard species introduced to South Florida such as Anolis garmani and A. equestris are commonly mistakenly called iguanas or iguanitos due to their resemblance to the common green iguana, Iguana iguana (Kern, 2009).

Used in the exotic pet trade in Florida, USA (Kern, 2009).

Anolis garmani is known to be mesophilic and arboreal, associated only with large trees or bamboo clumps at lower elevations and fairly numerous in montane forests at moderate altitude (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991). If disturbed, A. garmani may descend from a tree to hide in rocks, but otherwise is often found on the same tree day after day (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).

Anolis garmani feed on insects and other lizards (inlcuding male A.lineatopus on Jamaica) and \"apparently\" vegetal matter (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991). It is known to descend to ground level to feed on large crickets and cockroaches (Schwartz & Henderson, 1991).

Anolis garmani is noted as a species established in Florida due to escapes or intentional releases from the exotic pet trade (Kern, 2009).