Calotes versicolor
The Oriental garden lizard, scientifically known as Calotes versicolor, is a widely distributed agamid lizard recognized for its striking color-changing abilities, particularly in males during the breeding season. Primarily an insectivore, it inhabits a variety of environments across Indo-Malaya and has been introduced to other regions. Its distinctive features include a dorsal crest, a bright red throat in breeding males, and the ability to move its eyes independently.
Key Facts
- ›Also known as the changeable lizard, Indian garden lizard, or bloodsucker.
- ›Males develop a bright red throat and head during the breeding season.
- ›Feeds on insects, small vertebrates, and occasionally plant matter.
- ›Can change its body color from brownish-olive to red and black.
- ›Found in a wide range of habitats, including urban areas and trees.
- ›Lays 10-20 leathery-skinned eggs in moist soil or tree hollows.
Oriental Garden Lizard, Eastern Garden Lizard, Indian Garden Lizard, Common Garden Lizard, Bloodsucker, Changeable Lizard, Crested Tree Lizard, Roktochosha
Southeastern Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Celebes, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, United States
- Measures Over 10 cm Snout-To-Vent, With Total Length Up To 37 cm .
- Possesses Two Small Groups of Spines Above Each Tympanum.
- Dorsal Crest Is Moderately Elevated On the Neck and Anterior Trunk, Disappearing On the Middle of the Trunk In Younger Individuals.
- Scales Behind the Lower Jaw Are Much Smaller Than Others; Gular Sac Is Not Developed.
- Features 39 To 43 Scale Series Around the Middle of the Trunk.
- Hind Foot Is Not Much Longer Than the Head In Adults, But Considerably Longer In Juveniles.
- Coloration Is Highly Variable, Ranging From Uniform Brownish, Greyish-Olive, Or Yellowish.
- Often Displays Broad Brown Bands Across the Back, Interrupted By A Yellowish Lateral Band.
- Black Streaks Radiate From the Eye, Sometimes Continuing Over the Throat.
- the Belly Frequently Has Greyish Longitudinal Stripes, With A Distinct Median Stripe.
- Young Specimens Have A Dark, Black-Edged Band Across the Inter-Orbital Region.
- Can Change Ground Color To Bright Red, Black, Or A Mixture of Both, Sometimes Confined To the Head Or Diffused Over the Entire Body.
- Breeding Males Exhibit A Bright Red Throat, Head, and Shoulders, With A Black Throat.
- Both Sexes Have A Crest Extending From the Head To Near the Tail.
- Tails Are Long, Stiff, and Pointy; They Do Not Exhibit Autotomy .
- Can Move Each Eye Independently In Different Directions.
Insects, Small Vertebrates, Plant Matter
- Males Are Territorial During the Breeding Season, Displaying Dominance Through Head Brightening and Push-Ups.
- Males Attract Females By Inflating Their Throat and Showcasing Their Colored Heads.
- Escape Danger By Darting To the Nearest Tree.
- If Threatened At Close Range, They Scale To the Side of A Tree Facing Away From the Predator and Quickly Move Up.
- Bask In the Sun With Mouths Open On Twigs Or Walls.
- Descend To the Ground After Rain To Feed On Larvae and Small Insects.
- Shed Their Skins Like Other Reptiles.
Not Specified In Text
- Viewed As Pests and Killed By People In China.
About Calotes versicolor
The Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
The Oriental garden lizard, scientifically known as Calotes versicolor, is a common and adaptable agamid lizard found across a wide range of habitats in the Indo-Malayan region and beyond. This species is notable for its striking ability to change its body color, a trait that plays a significant role in its social signaling and camouflage. Males, in particular, exhibit vibrant color changes, especially during the breeding season, when their heads and throats can turn bright red or crimson.
Description and Characteristics
Calotes versicolor typically measures over 10 cm in snout-to-vent length, with a total length that can reach up to 37 cm including its tail. It possesses a dorsal crest extending from the neck along the back, which is more pronounced in larger individuals. Its coloration is highly variable, often appearing as a brownish-olive or greyish hue, but it can transform to shades of red and black. This color change is not just for display; it also aids in thermoregulation and can be used to communicate with rivals or potential mates. Unlike some other lizards, they do not practice tail autotomy, and their tails are characteristically long and stiff. A unique feature shared with chameleons is the ability to move each eye independently, allowing for a wider field of vision.
Habitat and Distribution
This adaptable species thrives in diverse environments, from dense undergrowth and open rural areas to highly urbanized settings. They are frequently observed basking on hedges, walls, and trees. The native range of the Oriental garden lizard includes much of South and Southeast Asia, extending from Iran to Vietnam, and it has also been introduced to various islands and even parts of the United States. Despite its wide distribution and presence in human-altered landscapes, it is considered common and not endangered in most of its natural range, though it is viewed as a pest in some regions like China.
Diet and Behavior
As an insectivore, Calotes versicolor primarily feeds on a variety of insects, including ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. Its diet also extends to small vertebrates such as rodents and other lizards. They possess teeth adapted for gripping prey, which they often stun by shaking before swallowing it whole. Occasionally, they supplement their diet with plant matter. Behaviorally, males become territorial during the breeding season, engaging in displays of push-ups and inflating their throats to ward off rivals and attract females. When threatened, they are quick to retreat to the safety of trees, often moving to the opposite side of the trunk to evade predators.
Reproduction
The Oriental garden lizard is oviparous, with females laying between 10 to 20 leathery-shelled eggs in moist soil or tree hollows. These eggs typically hatch within 6 to 7 weeks. Young lizards are capable of breeding when they reach about one year of age. The striking color changes, particularly the vibrant red hues seen in males, are most prominent during the breeding season, which generally occurs from May to early October.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name for the Oriental garden lizard?
The scientific name for the Oriental garden lizard is Calotes versicolor. It is also known by several other common names such as the changeable lizard, Indian garden lizard, and bloodsucker.
What does the Oriental garden lizard eat?
Calotes versicolor is primarily an insectivore, consuming insects like ants, beetles, dragonflies, and grasshoppers. They also prey on small vertebrates such as rodents and other lizards, and occasionally incorporate plant matter into their diet.
Where can the Oriental garden lizard be found?
The native range of Calotes versicolor spans across Indo-Malaya, including countries like India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. It has also been introduced to various other parts of the world, including some islands and even the United States.
Why is it called the 'bloodsucker'?
The name 'bloodsucker' is a common name for the Oriental garden lizard, particularly in Sri Lanka. It is believed to originate from the occasional reddish hue that appears on the throat and neck of the lizard, especially during the breeding season.
Can the Oriental garden lizard change its color?
Yes, the Oriental garden lizard is renowned for its ability to change color. While its ground color is often brownish-olive, it can shift to bright red, black, or a combination of these, a trait particularly pronounced in males during the breeding season.
What is the habitat of the Oriental garden lizard?
This lizard is highly adaptable and found in a wide variety of habitats. They are commonly seen among undergrowth, in open areas, and are well-adapted to highly urbanized environments, often found on hedges and trees.
How does the Oriental garden lizard reproduce?
Calotes versicolor is oviparous, meaning it lays eggs. Females typically lay between 10 to 20 long, spindle-shaped eggs with a leathery skin, burying them in moist soil or tree hollows. The eggs hatch in about 6 to 7 weeks.
Related Lizards
Indian garden lizard
The Indian garden lizard, scientifically known as Calotes versicolor, is a widely distributed agamid lizard found across Indo-Malaya and introduced in various other regions. It is characterized by its changeable coloration, with males developing bright red throats during the breeding season, and a dorsal crest that varies with age. These lizards are primarily insectivores but also consume small vertebrates and occasionally plant matter, adapting well to diverse habitats from rural undergrowth to urban environments.
Anolis extremus
The Barbados anole (Anolis extremus) is a medium-to-large, tree-dwelling lizard native to Barbados, though it has been introduced to other Caribbean islands and locations. Males are typically mossy green with dark markings and a yellow or orange throat flap, while females are smaller and less intensely colored, sometimes with dorsal stripes. This omnivorous species is an ambush predator, feeding on invertebrates and fruit.
Black-lipped forest lizard (Calotes nigrilabris)
The Black-lipped forest lizard (Calotes nigrilabris), also known as the black-cheek lizard, is an agamid species found only in Sri Lanka. It is easily distinguished from similar species by a black bar on its mouth, unlike the white or orange bars seen in others. This largely arboreal lizard inhabits tree trunks, hedges, and shrubs in submontane and montane regions, where it actively hunts insects and worms during the day.