Common Gliding Lizard

Common gliding lizard
Male Draco sumatranus extending gular flap at Kent Ridge Park, Singapore
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Draconinae
Genus: Draco
Species: D. sumatranus
Binomial name
Draco sumatranus
Schlegel, 1844
Synonyms
  • Draco viridis var. sumatrana Schlegel, 1844
  • Draco volans sumatranus
    Musters, 1983
  • Draco sumatranus
    McGuire & Heang, 2001[1]

The common gliding lizard (Draco sumatranus) is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. It has elongated ribs and skin flaps on the sides of its body. When opened, these skin flaps allow it to glide between tree trunks.

Behavior

It is primarily a tree dweller, except that the females come down to the forest floor to lay eggs.

Description

The body length is of about 9 cm (3.5 in), with a slightly longer tail. The body is of a dark grey/brown colouration with stripes and patterns to help it camouflage against the tree trunks. The males have a yellow triangular flap of skin under the chin, the gular fold, which is used to communicate with other lizards, mostly for mating. Females have a much smaller and blue flap.

Diet

They feed on small insects. Usually ants and termites.

Habitat

They are relatively common in forests and in urban settings such as parks and gardens.

Geographic range

They are found in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Palawan.

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered a sub-species of Draco volans.[2]

References

External links

Further reading


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