Calotes mystaceus

Indo-Chinese forest lizard
Calotes mystaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Draconinae
Genus: Calotes
Species: C. mystaceus
Binomial name
Calotes mystaceus
Duméril & Bibron, 1837[1]

Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.[2]

Description/Identification

Calotes mystaceus in Keibul Lamjao National Park, India.

Physical Structure: Upper head-scales smooth or feebly keeled, imbricate, scarcely enlarged on supraorbital region; a few small spines on each side of the head above the tympanum; latter measuring at least half the diameter of the orbit. Gular sac small; gular scales feebly keeled, as large as dorsals. An oblique fold in front of the shoulder. Dorso-nuchal crest well developed in the male,composed of falciform spines directed backwards, the longest measuring the diameter of the orbit; it gradually decreases in height on the back, being reduced to a mere denticulation on the sacrum. 45-53 scales round the middle of the body; dorsal scales keeled, nearly twice as large as ventrals, all directed upwards and backwards; ventral scales strongly keeled. The adpressed hind limb reaches the tympanum or the posterior border of the orbit; fourth finger slightly longer than the third. Tail a little compressed, at the base with a slightly serrated upper ridge.

Color Pattern: Background color grey to olive, frequently with large transverse red spots on the back; lips yellowish.[3]

Length: Maximum: 42 cm., Common: 28 cm. (Snout to vent 9.5 cm.). [4]

Maximum published weight: ? g.

Distribution

Cambodia, China (Yunnan), India (Mizoram), Laos, Myanmar (Tenasserim to Mandalay = Mandale and Kachin State [26°00N, 97°30E]), Thailand (north of the Istmus of Kra), & Vietnam (South).[2] And possibly found in Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill tracts), adjacent to Mizoram province of India.

Male Calotes mystaceus from Thailand

Vernacular names

Bengali: নীল-মাথা গিরিগিটি (Neel-matha girigiti), নীলা রক্তচোষা (proposed)।

Burmese: ပုတ္သင္ညိဳ (Pote Thin Nyo)

Chinese: 白唇树蜥

English: Blue-crested lizard, Indo-Chinese bloodsucker, Indo-Chinese forest lizard, White-lipped calotes.

Hindi & Mizo: ?

Khmer (Cambodian): ?

Lao: ?

Thai: Ging-ga Hua Si Fa, Ging-ga Suan.

Vietnamese: ?

Habitat

Terrestrial & arboreal; diurnal; naturally found in forest, but can be found in treed neighborhoods and city parks.

Diet

Feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and other insects.

Reproduction

Oviparous; [2] -----.

Uses

No known practical uses. Plays an insectivorous role in its ecosystem.

Threat to humans

Non-venomous and harmless to humans. Can give a painful bite if handled, but is not dangerous.

IUCN threat status

Not Evaluated (NE).

References

  1. ↑ Duméril, A. M. C. and G. Bibron. 1837 Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Vol. 4. Libr. Encyclopédique Roret, Paris.
  2. 1 2 3 Calotes mystaceus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Boulenger, G. A. 1890. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
  4. ↑ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/colorful-new-lizard-vietnam-animals-science/

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 4/5/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.