Otocryptis wiegmanni

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Otocryptis wiegmanni
At Udawattakele, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Otocryptis
Species: O. weigmannii
Binomial name
Otocryptis weigmannii
(Wagler, 1830)
Synonyms

Cophotis wiegmanni
Otocryptis bivittata

The Brown-patched Kangaroo lizard (Otocryptis wiegmanni), also called Wiegmann's Agama or Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard, is a small, ground dwelling agamid lizard endemic to the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests (up to 1300 metres) of Sri Lanka. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter of shady rain forests. 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.[1][2] It is closely related to the Indian Kangaroo Lizard (Otocryptis beddomii) of the rain forests of South India.

Description

Adult body size: about 7 cm. Tail: 15 cm. 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.[1][2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Deraniyagala, P. E. P., A Colored Atlas of Some Vertebrates from Ceylon, Vol. 2, 1953, p. 58.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Indraneil Das and Anslem de Silva, Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Sri Lanka, London, 2005, p. 88.

External links

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  • Taxonomy(Accessed: 5.9.2010)
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