Calotes mystaceus
| Indo-Chinese forest lizard | |
|---|---|
| |
| Calotes mystaceus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Calotes |
| Species: | C. mystaceus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Calotes mystaceus | |
Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard or blue crested lizard, is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.[2]
Description/Identification
[edit]
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]
Distribution
[edit]Cambodia, China (Yunnan), India (Mizoram), Laos, Myanmar (Tenasserim to Naypyitaw = Naypyitaw, Mandalay, and Kachin State [26°00N, 97°30E]), Thailand (Chiang Saen) (north of the Isthmus of Kra), & Vietnam (South).[2] It is also reported from Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill tracts), adjacent to Mizoram province of India.[citation needed] The Indochinese Bloodsucker is first documentation in Florida from Okeechobee County and Glades County.
Vernacular names
[edit]- Burmese: ပုတ်သင်ညို
- Chinese: 白唇树蜥
- English: Blue-crested lizard, Indo-Chinese bloodsucker, Indo-Chinese forest lizard, White-lipped calotes
- Hindi: girgit
- Khmer: បង្គួយក្បាលខៀវខាងលិចទន្លេមេគង្គ
Habitat
[edit]Terrestrial & arboreal; diurnal; naturally found in forest, but can be found in treed neighborhoods and city parks.
Diet
[edit]Feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and other insects.
Reproduction
[edit]The Indo-Chinese forest lizard is oviparous.[2]
Uses
[edit]No known practical uses. Plays an insectivorous role in its ecosystem.
Threat to humans
[edit]Non-venomous and harmless to humans. Can give a painful bite if handled, but is not dangerous.
IUCN threat status
[edit]Not Evaluated (NE).
References
[edit]- ^ Duméril, A. M. C. and G. Bibron. 1837 Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complete des Reptiles. Vol. 4. Libr. Encyclopédique Roret, Paris.
- ^ a b c Calotes mystaceus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 July 2014.
- ^ Boulenger, G. A. 1890. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia.
- ^ "Colorful New Lizard Identified in Vietnam". Archived from the original on 2013-01-17.
- Hallermann, J. 2005 Mit Hörnern, Kämmen und Gleithäuten - die bizarren Baumagamen. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (1): 18-25