Oriental Garde. Lizard

The oriental garden lizard, eastern garden lizard, Indian garden lizard, common garden lizard, bloodsucker, or changeable lizard (Calotes versicolor) is an agamid lizard found widely distributed in indo-Malaya. It has also been introduced in many other parts of the world.

It is an insectivore and the male gets a bright red throat in the breeding season.

It measures over 10 cm (3.9 in) in length snout-to-vent. Total length including the tail is up to 37 cm (14.5 in).[2] Two small groups of spines, perfectly separated from each other, above each tympanum. Dorsal crest moderately elevated on the neck and anterior part of the trunk, extending on to the root of the tail in large individuals, and gradually disappearing on the middle of the trunk in younger ones.

The coloration is very variable, sometimes uniform brownish or greyish-olive or yellowish. Generally broad brown bands across the back.

The ground-colour is generally a light brownish olive, but the lizard can change it to bright red, to black, and to a mixture of both. This change is sometimes confined to the head, at other times diffused over the whole body and tail.

During the breeding season, the male's head and shoulders turns bright orange to crimson and his throat black. Males also turn red-headed after a successful battle with rivals. Both males and females have a crest from the head to nearly the tail, hence their other common name, "crested tree lizard".

 

                       baby garden lizard

Diet :

Changeable lizards eat mainly insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, ants and small vertebrates, including rodents and other lizards including common house geckos and day geckos. They have teeth which are designed for gripping prey and not tearing it up. So prey is swallowed whole, after it is stunned by shaking it about. Sometimes, young, inexperienced changeable lizards may choke on prey which are too large. Changeable lizards also occasionally consume vegetable matter.

Reproduction :

Males become highly territorial during breeding season. They discourage intruding males by brightening their red heads and doing "push-ups". Each tries to attract a female by inflating his throat and drawing attention to his handsomely colored head. Oviparous; about 10—20 eggs are laid, buried in moist soil. The eggs are long, spindle-shaped and covered with a leathery skin. They hatch in about 6–7 weeks. They are able to breed at about 1 year old.

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🔎Notes taken from Wikipedia for detailed information

Pic -©Meeha begum.N

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