Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard -(Otocryptis weigmanni)- Rises on to its hind legs when running like a kangaroo

Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard -(Otocryptis wiegmanni) is a small, grounddwelling agamid lizard endemic to the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests (up to 1300 meters) of Sri Lanka.This lizard when disturbed may run bipedally (Rises on to its hind legs when running). That is the base for unusual name ‘kangaroo lizard’ for it. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter near forest streams of shady rain forests.

It is commonly found in wet and intermediate zone habitats and is rarely seen in the dry zone except in riverine habitats. It is not found in highly populated areas.This lizard is active during the daytime and it is commonly found in pairs. It feeds on small insects and uses its hind legs to run, especially when threatened. It is usually found on tree trunks in the afternoon and under large leaves at night. This lizard leads a semi-arboreal life. When perceiving danger, it spurts away quickly on its large hind legs and might eventually climb up a sapling or tree. It feeds on small insects, grubs and tender shoots. It is closely related to the Indian Kangaroo Lizard (Otocryptis beddomii) of the rain forests of South India.

Adult body size,about 7 cms. Tail: 15 cms. Its colour ranges from dark reddish brown to dull brown. Males are darker than females. Lays between three and five eggs in a nest in the ground between July and January. Its diet consists of insects (Ants, Moths, Grasshoppers and Beetles), Spiders and occasionally plant materials such as tender shoots.

This lizard also called Wiegmann’s Agama or Brown-patched Kangaroo lizard ,several Sinhalese names for this lizard – Kala Katussa, Yak Katussa, Pinum Katussa, Thalli Katussa

 

The Green Forest Lizard – Calotes calotes

The Green Forest Lizard has a bright green dorsal coloration, usually with 5 or 6 white, cream or dark green transverse stripes; these are changeable.Often the stripes continue on to the tail. The head is yellowish- or brownish-green whereas the male develops a bright red head and throat in the breeding season. The underside is a pale green, the tail is light brown.

The length of head is one and a half times the size of its breadth, the snout is a little longer than the orbit. The lizard has a concave forehead, swollen cheeks and smooth, unequal upper head-scales.

The body is compressed, the dorsal scales are large and usually feebly keeled, but sometimes smooth. these scales point backwards and upwards and are as large as or a slightly smaller than the ventrals, which are strongly keeled and mucronate. 30 to 35 scales cover the middle of the body. The gular pouch is not developed, the gular scales are feebly keeled, they are nearly as large as the ventrals. A short oblique fold is in front of the shoulder and is covered with small granular scales. The Nuchal and dorsal crests are continuous, composed of closely set lanceolate spines with smaller ones at the base.The hind-limb reaches to the front of the eye or further. Calotes calotes has a very long and slender tail.

Though very little knowledge is available in roosting ecology of the green forest lizards.