Calotes mystaceus
Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard or blue crested lizard, is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Description and identification
Physical Structure: Upper head-scales smooth or feebly keeled, imbricate, scarcely enlarged on supraorbital region; a few small spines on each side of the head above the tympanum; latter measuring at least half the diameter of the orbit. Gular sac small; gular scales feebly keeled, as large as dorsals. An oblique fold in front of the shoulder. Dorso-nuchal crest well developed in the male, composed of falciform spines directed backwards, the longest measuring the diameter of the orbit; it gradually decreases in height on the back, being reduced to a mere denticulation on the sacrum. 45-53 scales round the middle of the body; dorsal scales keeled, nearly twice as large as ventrals, all directed upwards and backwards; ventral scales strongly keeled. The adpressed hind limb reaches the tympanum or the posterior border of the orbit; fourth finger slightly longer than the third. Tail a little compressed, at the base with a slightly serrated upper ridge.Color Pattern: Background color grey to olive, frequently with large transverse red spots on the back; lips yellowish.
Length: Maximum: 42 cm. Common: 28 cm..
Distribution
, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand , & Vietnam. It is also reported from Bangladesh, adjacent to Mizoram province of India. The Indochinese Bloodsucker is first documentation in Florida from Okeechobee County and Glades County.Vernacular names
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- 白唇树蜥
- English: Blue-crested lizard, Indo-Chinese bloodsucker, Indo-Chinese forest lizard, White-lipped calotes
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Habitat