Suborder Iguania Subfamily Draconinae Higher classification Calotes Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Agamidae Genus Calotes Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Calotes, Reptile, Calotes emma, Agamidae, Oriental garden lizard | ||
Blue crested lizard calotes mystaceus
Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Contents
Description/Identification
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.
Length: Maximum: 42 cm., Common: 28 cm. (Snout to vent 9.5 cm.).
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 (north of the Istmus of Kra), & Vietnam (South). And possibly found in Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill tracts), adjacent to Mizoram province of India.
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; -----.
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).
