Draco (genus)

Draco
Draco taeniopterus Günther, 1861,
from Bulon Island, Thailand.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Agaminae
Genus: Draco
Linnaeus, 1758

Draco is a genus of agamid lizards that also are known as "flying dragons" (particularly the species draco volans). The ribs and their connecting membrane may be extended to create a wing, the hindlimbs are flattened and wing-like in cross-section, and a small set of flaps on the neck serve as a horizontal stabilizers. Draco are arboreal insectivores. While not capable of powered flight they often obtain lift in the course of their gliding flights. Glides as long as 60 m (200 ft) have been recorded, over which the animal loses only 10 m (33 ft) in height, which is quite some distance, considering that one of these lizards is only around 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length (tail included).[1]

Reproduction

The only time a flying lizard ventures to the ground is when a female is ready to lay her eggs. She descends the tree she is on and makes a nest hole by forcing her head into the soil. She then lays 2–5 eggs before filling the hole. She guards the eggs for approximately 24 hours, but then leaves and has nothing more to do with her offspring.[1]

Etymology

Linnaeus derived the name of this genus from the Latin term for mythological dragons.

Species

The following 42 species are recognized:[2][3]

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Draco.

Gliding

The lizards are well known for their "display structures" and ability to glide long distances using their wing-like, patagial membranes supported by elongated thoracic ribs to generate lift forces.[5]

See also

Wikispecies has information related to: Draco

References

  1. 1 2 Piper, Ross (2007), Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals, Greenwood Press.
  2. ↑ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. ↑ Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
  4. ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Draco beccarii, p. 21).
  5. ↑ Herre, Albert W. (1958). "On the Gliding of Flying Lizards, Genus Draco". Copeia 1958 (4): 338–339. doi:10.2307/1439979. JSTOR 1439979.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Draco.
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