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Fig 3

Fig 4

Fig 5
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Family : LEIOLEPIDIDAE
Species : Leiolepis belliana
Size (snout to vent) : 15 cm
Size (total length) : Up to at least 40 cm
Butterfly Lizards (family
Leiolepididae) are a small group of distinctive lizards comprising nine species.
The Common Butterfly Lizard breeds by normal sexual reproduction, however four
species of butterfly lizard are parthenogenic (i.e. there is only a
single sex which reproduces by cloning) : the
Malayan Butterfly Lizard is one
such example.
Butterfly Lizards are endemic to Southeast Asia; they
inhabit open areas such as disturbed agricultural land, and sandy coastal
habitat.
The Common Butterfly
Lizard is
characterised by its greenish-grey colour, patterned with yellowish spots
and its handsome black and orange markings along the flank. Juveniles
are striped and have a reddish tail.
They can be found basking in the sun along sandy, forest
trails, and can be locally common on golf courses. If alarmed they will
quickly return to their burrows : at night these may be sealed with sand, probably as
a defensive measure against nocturnal snakes.
The Common Butterfly
Lizard occurs in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and
Sumatra. It has not been found in Singapore.
Fig 1 : A large adult scans its territory from the rim of its burrow.
Fig 2 : A smaller adult emerges from its burrow and patrols its territory.
Fig 3 : The belly is attractively mottled in orange and blue.
(Figs 1 to 3 from Langkawi, Peninsular Malaysia),
Fig 4 : Example from back-beach, sandy habitat at Tanjong Jara, Terengganu,
Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 5 : Specimen from Lanjut, on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
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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