Step 1: The anal canal is lined predominantly by squamous epithelium below the dentate line, so tumours arising here tend to be squamous in origin.
Step 2: Squamous cell carcinoma is therefore the commonest malignancy of the anal canal, beginning in the outer squamous lining.
Step 3: The next most frequent anal canal tumours are basal cell carcinoma and melanoma, but these are far less common than squamous cell carcinoma.
Step 4: Adenocarcinoma is the commonest cancer of the rectum and colon, not the anal canal, and adenoacanthoma and papillary types are not the usual anal canal cancers. Hence the answer is squamous cell carcinoma.