Green crestless forest lizard (Calotes andamanensis)

Green crestless forest lizard (Pseudocalotes andamanensis)

The Green crestless forest lizard, scientifically known as Pseudocalotes andamanensis, is an agamid lizard species native to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. It is also recognized by several common names, including the Andaman and Nicobar forest lizard, Andaman lizard, and Andaman green calotes. This species is notable for its highly arboreal nature, spending almost its entire life in the forest canopy, which contributes to it being a rarely observed creature.

Discovery and Taxonomy

The first documented specimen, the holotype, was an adult male collected from the Andaman Islands in 1882 by Frederick Adolph de Roepstorff. The species was formally described by Boulenger in 1891. Historically, the classification of this species has seen some adjustments; it formerly included Microauris aurantolabium from southern India, which has since been reclassified as a distinct species. The Green crestless forest lizard was recently rediscovered in the Andaman Islands, confirming its presence in its historical range.

Habitat and Behavior

The natural habitat of Pseudocalotes andamanensis is the dense forest canopy of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Its life spent high among the branches makes it exceptionally elusive and difficult to find. Little is recorded about its specific diet, reproductive behaviors, or lifespan, consistent with its secretive arboreal existence.