| Leaf-nosed Lizard | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Ceratophora |
| Species: | C. tennentii |
| Binomial name | |
| Ceratophora tennentii Günther, 1861 |
|
The Leaf-nosed Lizard or Tennent's Leaf-nosed Lizard (Ceratophora tennentii) is a species of lizard in the Agamidae family. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Contents |
The arboreal leaf-nosed lizard, also known as the "horn-nosed lizard" or "Horned lizard", has a leaf-like appendage on the end of its nose, the species can reach lengths of over 8 inches including the tail. The Latin word for which it was named, Ceratophora, means horn bearer. The males usually have more green in their coloration than females seem to have, although they can change color to a reddish brown. The females usually have shorter appendages on their nose. These lizards are not very agile and rely more on their coloration to avoid predators rather than speed. The lizard is diurnal and therefore is usually only active in the day. Very little is actually known about this unusual lizard.
Found in the wet tropical montane cloud forests of the Knuckles mountains in Sri Lanka, although they have been recorded in several other forest habitats.
The leaf nosed lizard is reported to feed on insects
The leaf-nosed lizard lays eggs and is a sexually reproducing animal.
deforestation, pesticides, climate change, forest fire and bioaccumulation. Much of the leaf-nosed lizards habitat has been cleared for illegal logging, agriculture, and the cardamom, coffee, tea, and rubber plantations over the past two centuries.
As of now the leaf-nosed lizard is protected because of its endangered status, making its trade is illegal.
In 2000, areas above 1,067 m above sea level were protected and labeled as conservation forest. The cardamom cultivation had to be abandoned in this range of area. However, rather than allowing the natural regeneration, the cardamom was taken over by invasive weeds such as mistflower (Eupatorium riparium) and Lantana (Lantana camara). it was placed on the endangered list by the IUCN in 2006.
Reptiles Magazine
http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/reptiles/Ceratophora_tennentii/