Brachysaura minor
Hardwicke's bloodsucker, also known as Calotes minor, is a small, stocky agamid lizard found across South Asia. It is characterized by its pot-belly, short tail, and distinct olive-brown coloration with dark-brown spots. Primarily terrestrial and diurnal, this harmless species inhabits dry forests, arid environments, and barren deserts.
Key Facts
- ›Found in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.
- ›Primarily insectivorous, feeding on grasshoppers, beetles, and spiders.
- ›Oviparous, laying 4-6 hard-shelled eggs between April and June.
- ›Commonly measures around 10 cm in length, with a maximum of 18 cm.
- ›Harmless to humans and non-venomous.
- ›Inhabits dry forests, arid environments, and desert areas.
Hardwicke's Bloodsucker, Hardwicke's Short-Tail Agama, Dwarf Rock Agama, Lesser Agama, আগামা গিরিগিটি, পাতি রক্তচোষা, পাতিয়াল গিরিগিটি, হার্ডউইকের গিরিগিটি
Bangladesh, India, Pakistan
- Small, Stocky, Pot-Bellied Lizard With A Short Tail.
- Head Is Large, Elongated, and Flat Above, Sloping Towards the Snout.
- Dorsal Scales Are Larger, Strongly Imbricate, and Keeled, Pointing Backward and Upward.
- Ventral Scales Are Smaller Than Dorsal Scales.
- Upper Head Scales Are Larger, Unequal, and Strongly Keeled Or Tubercular.
- Females Are Larger Than Males.
- Dorsal Color Is Olive-Brown With Three Rows of Dark-Brown, Light-Edged Spots.
- Spots On the Middle Row Are Rhomboidal and Most Prominent.
- Features A White Streak On Each Side of the Neck That Bifurcates Behind.
- Has An Oblique Streak From the Eye To the Angle of the Mouth.
- Limbs Have Dark-Brown Cross Bars.
- Throat Is Profusely Spotted With Dark-Brown and Orange.
- Belly Is Yellowish-White With Numerous Orange Dots.
- Color Inside the Mouth Is Ink-Blue.
- Females Are More Brilliantly Colored During the Breeding Season.
Grasshoppers and Their Nymphs, Earwigs, Beetles, Bugs, Arthropods, Spiders, Flowers
- Terrestrial and Sometimes Arboreal.
- Diurnal and Crepuscular.
- Shelters In Burrows Near the Roots of Thorny Bushes.
- Often Found Sitting On Stones.
- Can Climb Shrubby Vegetation.
- Sluggish In Movements, Often Not Attempting To Escape When Approached.
- Docile Species.
- Reputation For Being Harmful Has Contributed To Depletion.
About Brachysaura minor
Hardwicke's Bloodsucker (Brachysaura minor)
Hardwicke's bloodsucker, scientifically known as Calotes minor, is a small, stocky agamid lizard native to South Asia. This species is recognized by its pot-bellied appearance, short tail, and a distinct coloration pattern of olive-brown with dark-brown, light-edged spots on its back and tail. It also features unique markings on its neck and head, with an ink-blue interior to its mouth.
Distribution and Habitat
Calotes minor is found across parts of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. It primarily inhabits terrestrial environments, though it can occasionally be found in trees. Its preferred habitats include fragmented dry forests, arid regions, barren deserts, and desolate areas, often situated within the Indo-Gangetic plains.
Behavior and Diet
This lizard is diurnal and crepuscular, meaning it is active during both the day and twilight hours. It typically shelters in burrows dug near the roots of thorny bushes. While often observed resting on stones, it is capable of climbing shrubby vegetation. Hardwicke's bloodsucker is known for its sluggish movements and docile nature, rarely attempting to escape when approached.
Its diet is predominantly insectivorous, consisting of grasshoppers, earwigs, beetles, bugs, arthropods, and spiders. In some instances, it has also been noted to consume flowers.
Reproduction and Physical Characteristics
Calotes minor reproduces oviparously, laying its eggs between April and June. Females deposit four to six hard-shelled white eggs in burrows. Females are generally larger than males and exhibit more vibrant coloration during the breeding season. Adult lengths commonly measure around 10 cm, with a maximum recorded length of 18 cm (snout to vent: 6 cm).
Conservation and Human Interaction
Despite a baseless reputation for being harmful, Hardwicke's bloodsucker is entirely non-venomous and harmless to humans. Its role in the ecosystem involves controlling insect populations. However, this unfounded reputation has unfortunately contributed to its depletion. The species name 'minor' is a Latin word signifying 'less' or 'smaller,' reflecting its diminutive size within the agamid family.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the common names for Brachysaura minor?
Brachysaura minor is commonly known as Hardwicke's bloodsucker. Other English names include Hardwicke's short-tail agama, dwarf rock agama, and lesser agama. In Bengali, it is referred to as আগামা গিরিগিটি, পাতি রক্তচোষা, পাতিয়াল গিরিগিটি, and হার্ডউইকের গিরিগিটি.
Where is Brachysaura minor found?
This lizard species has a distribution across South Asia. It is found in the southeast part of Bangladesh, in various states of India including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Odissa, and in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
What is the physical appearance of Brachysaura minor?
Brachysaura minor is a small, stocky lizard with a pot-belly and a short tail. It possesses a large, elongated, flat head. Its dorsal scales are larger and keeled, while ventral scales are smaller. The coloration is typically olive-brown with dark-brown, light-edged spots on its back and tail, and it has distinctive streaks on its neck and sides.
What does Brachysaura minor eat?
The diet of Brachysaura minor is primarily insectivorous. It feeds on a variety of insects, including grasshoppers and their nymphs, earwigs, beetles, bugs, arthropods, and spiders. Occasionally, it has been observed to eat flowers.
How does Brachysaura minor reproduce?
Brachysaura minor is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs. The breeding season typically occurs from April to June, during which females lay four to six hard-shelled white eggs in burrows located under the roots of vegetation.
Is Brachysaura minor dangerous to humans?
No, Brachysaura minor is completely harmless to humans. It is a non-venomous species and poses no threat.
What kind of habitat does Brachysaura minor prefer?
This lizard is terrestrial and can sometimes be found in arboreal settings. It prefers habitats such as fragmented dry forests, arid environments, barren deserts, and desolate areas, often found across the Indo-Gangetic plains.
What is the typical size of Brachysaura minor?
The common adult size for Brachysaura minor is around 10 cm in length. The maximum recorded length is 18 cm, with the snout-to-vent length typically being 6 cm.
Related Lizards
Hardwicke's bloodsucker
Hardwicke's bloodsucker (Calotes minor) is a small, stocky agamid lizard native to South Asia. It is characterized by its pot-belly appearance, large head, and distinctively patterned olive-brown coloration with dark-brown, light-edged spots. This terrestrial and sometimes arboreal species inhabits arid environments and dry forests, playing a role in its ecosystem by consuming insects.
Varanus griseus
The desert monitor (Varanus griseus) is a large carnivorous lizard found across North Africa and Central and South Asia, known for its adaptability to arid environments. It exhibits varied coloration, can grow up to 2 meters in length, and possesses a venomous bite that can cause paralysis in prey and symptoms like nausea in humans. Despite its formidable qualities, it faces significant threats from habitat loss and human persecution.
Varanus
Monitor lizards, belonging to the genus Varanus, are a diverse group of lizards recognized for their long necks, powerful tails and claws, and well-developed limbs. They are found across Africa, Asia, and Oceania, with some species also existing as invasive populations. Monitor lizards exhibit a wide range of diets, from primarily carnivorous to partially herbivorous, and possess a complex venom system.