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Family : AGAMIDAE
Species : Draco taeniopterus
Size (snout to vent) : 8 cm
Size (total length) : ~ 24 cm
The Barred Gliding Lizard
is one of the smaller species of the genus Draco: males have a
snout-vent length of 8 cm, and females are slightly smaller. It occurs in
lowland forest, and is generally found less than 10 metres above the ground
(Grismer, 2011). Like other species of Draco, it probably feeds on
small ants.
Its body is relatively slender, its neck is relatively long and its head
is somewhat bulbous.
The elongated part of the gular flag, or dewlap, in males is yellow and
bears enlarged scales, and the
base of the gular flag and the area underneath the lappets is red. The gular flag in females is smaller,
triangular in shape and is partly reddish.
The ground colour of the body is brown, with poorly defined darker and
lighter mottling, and vague, narrow, dark banding.
The upper surface of the gliding membrane, or patagium, bears
greenish-yellow and blackish banding, and has a dull red border.
This species occurs in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and the extreme north of
Peninsular Malaysia (Perlis state, and a single, remote island in Kedah state).
Figs 1 and 2 : Male specimen from Kaeng Krachan, Thailand. It was
photographed mid-morning, low down on a tree trunk at the edge of a
streamside trail through dense lowland forest. Photos thanks to Charles Currin.
References :
Grismer, L. L. (2011). Lizards of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and
their Adjacent Archipelagos. Their Description, Distribution, and
Natural History. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main. 728 pp.
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