Calotes mystaceus

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

Indo-Chinese forest lizard
Calotes mystaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Calotes
Species:
C. mystaceus
Binomial name
Calotes mystaceus

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 Naypyitaw = Naypyitaw, Mandalay, and Kachin State [26°00N, 97°30E]), Thailand (Chiang Saen) (north of the Isthmus 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: ပုတ်သင်ညို (Pote Thin Nyo)

Chinese: 白唇树蜥

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

Hindi:girgit

Khmer (Cambodian): បង្គួយក្បាលខៀវខាងលិចទន្លេមេគង្គ

Lao: ກະປອມ gabpom

Thai: กะปอม/กิ้งก่า gabpawm/ginggaa

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. 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/
  • Hallermann, J. 2005 Mit Hörnern, Kämmen und Gleithäuten - die bizarren Baumagamen. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (1): 18-25
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