Calotes ceylonensis

Painted-lipped Lizard
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Calotes
Species: C. ceylonensis
Binomial name
Calotes ceylonensis
Müller, 1887

The Painted-lipped lizard, or Sri Lanka Bloodsucker, Calotes ceylonensis is a species of lizard in the Agamidae family. It is one of four Calotes species endemic to Sri Lanka.

Distribution

A colorful, arboreal agamid confined to monsoon forests, plantations and home gardens in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka. Localities include Mankulam, Elahera, Nilgala, Minneriya National Park, Sigiriya, Kandalama, Laggala, Kumana National Park, Puttalam and Kumbalgamuwa, up to elevation of about 400m.

Stressed male with white-lips
With a insect prey at Kaludiya Pokuna

Description

Head is one and half times width. Body compressed. Tail is long and slender, about over twice head-body length. Cheeks are swollen. Two separated spines can be seen above tympanum. Nuchal crest formed with low spines. Midbody scale rows 54-60.

Dorsum brown, with indistinct brown bands. Head and anterior part of body blackish-brown. A bright red or reddish-orange stripe on upper lip that extend to back of head. When threatened, or agitated by stress, brown colored lip turns into bright white color. Dorso-nuchal crest of the same color. Throat of adult male black. Tail brown with dark bands. Venter pale brown with darker bands.

Ecology

Active during the day on tree trunk. Diet comprises insects and other arthropods. About 5-10 eggs, measuring 14.5 × 16.5mm are produced at a time.

References