Reptile Facts

rhamphotheca: Boyd’s Forest Dragon (Hypsilurus boydii)

… from various locations around Queensland, Australia

- family Agamidae. endemic to northern Queensland. found in rainforests, both lowland and high elevation. avg adult length of up to 16 cm (snout vent), 32.5 cm (total length). males are larger, with more block like heads, more pronounced crests (pic 2nd from bttm is female). predominantly insectivorous, small vertebrates and fruits sometimes consumed.

(photo: T/ML - Peter Nijenhuis; MR - Matt Clancy; midB - Paul Khadim; bttm - Zoharby)

astronomy-to-zoology: Hump-nosed Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) …

… also known as the Lyreshead Lizard, the hump-nosed lizard is a species of Agamid lizard native to Sri Lanka. It gets its name from a small knob on the top of its nose which i can only guess is used in display. They also have a dewlap under their chins to deter predators. They are often found in wet forests where they do lizard things….

Phylogeny: Animalia-Chordata-Reptilia-Squamata-Agamidae-Agaminae-Lyriocephalus-scuatus

Image Source(s)

(via moreanimalia)

fortheloveofherpetology: Tennent’s Leaf-Nosed Lizard (Ceratophora tennentii)

• Only found in the Knuckles Forest Region in Central Sri Lanka
• Little is known about this species as a whole
• These lizards are Oviparous, or egg laying
• Classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red list as of 2006 due to habitat fragmentation

I do not own these images

Tennent’s leaf-nosed lizard is found in the wet tropical montane cloud forests of the Knuckles mountains in Sri Lanka, although they have been recorded in several other forest habitats.

These lizards are not very agile and rely more on their coloration to avoid predators rather than speed. They are diurnal and reported to eat insects and other small arthropods. 

Much of this species habitat has been cleared for illegal logging, agriculture, and the cardamom, coffee, tea, and rubber plantations over the past two centuries. But in 2000, areas above 1,067 m above sea level were protected and labeled as conservation forest and cardamom cultivation abandoned within these areas. However, rather than allowing the natural regeneration, the cardamom was taken over by invasive weeds such as mistflower (Eupatorium riparium) and Lantana (Lantana camara). Due to the threats affecting their native habitats the Tennent’s leaf-nosed lizard was placed on the endangered list by the IUCN in 2006.

astronomy-to-zoology:  Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus)

The Sinai Agama is a lizard that can be found in areas of and around countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti and parts of Libya. They can grow up to 10in most of that is in their tail though. They hunt during the daytime eating insects and plants. Their most striking characteristic is that during mating season is they turn a striking sky blue color, and females get brown-red spots.

Phylogeny

Animalia-Chordata-Squamata-Agamidae-Pseudotrapelus

herplove:

Secret Toad-headed Agama (Phrynocephalus mystaceus)

When frightened, the Secret Toad-headed Agama unfolds some skin flaps by its mouth that are bright red. It hisses and bares its teeth while the folds are exposed to try and scare off any predators.

fortheloveofherpetology: Flying Dragon Lizard (Draco volan)

• Native to Southeast Asia
• A tree-dwelling lizard that can glide through the air from tree to tree
• It grows to about eight inches long
• A thin membrane covers false ribs extending outward from the flying dragon’s body. Supported by this membrane, the animal can glide 50 feet or more after leaping from a tall tree. It can turn in the air, and even return to the tree from which it jumped
• Video of a flying dragon lizard

I do not own these images, video, or this information

Stellion (Laudakia stellio)

A Stellion, also known as a Hardim or Star Lizard, is a species of agamid lizard found in Greece, Southwest Asia, and Northeast Africa. Like many agamas, stellions can change color to express their moods. They bask on stone walls, rocks and buildings, and also on trees. They are usually found in rocky habitats, and are quite shy, being very ready to dive into cracks to hide from potential predators.

The name “stellion” comes from Latin stellio, stēlio (stelliōn-, stēliōn-), which referred to any spotted lizard, from stella, star.

Photo and information source: [1]

rhamphotheca: Dumbara Pygmy Lizard, (Cophotis dumbarae)

A second species of Cophotis (Reptilia: Agamidae) from the highlands of Sri Lanka

The endemic ovoviviparous Sri Lankan lizard genus Cophotis has hitherto been considered to comprise only a single species, C. ceylanica Peters, 1861, restricted to tropical montane cloud forests at elevations above ~1,700 m in the southern part of Sri Lanka’s central highlands. Here we describe a second species, Cophotis dumbarae, from an elevation of ~ 1,400 m in the Dumbara (=Knuckles) Hills, to the north of the central mountains, and separated from them by the Mahaweli River valley (~500 m elevation)…

(read more: NovaTaxa)        

(images: Manamendra-Arachchi, de Silva & Amarasinghe, 2006)

fortheloveofherpetology: Frilled Lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)

• Members of the dragon family that live in the tropical and warm temperate forests and savanna woodlands of northern Australia. They spend most of their lives in the trees, but descend occasionally to feed on ants and small lizards. Other menu items include spiders, cicadas, termites, and small mammals

• When the Frilled lizard feels threatened, it rises on its hind legs, opens its yellow-colored mouth, unfurls the colorful, pleated skin flap that encircles its head, and hisses

• If an attacker is unintimidated, the lizard simply bolts, legs splaying left and right. It continues its deliberate run without stopping or looking back until it reaches the safety of a tree

• They vary in color and size from region to region. On average, the larger adults reach about 3 feet from head to tail and weigh up to 1.1 pounds

• They are currently not threatened or protected, but habitat reduction and predation in some areas, particularly by feral cats, is affecting their populations

• Females lay 8 to 23 tiny eggs in an underground nest, and hatchlings emerge fully independent and capable of hunting and utilizing their frill

• Their lifespan in the wild is unknown, but specimens in captivity have lived 20 years

• Besides defense, this lizard’s colorful frill may be used to help regulate body temperature

HERE is a video of a frilled lizard trying to intimidate and running

I do not own these images or this video