23/02/2025
Hump nosed lizard
Lyriocephalus scutatus (Endemic to Sri Lanka)
කඳුකර බෝදිලිමා
22.02.2025
Sinharaja Forest Reserve Deniyaya, Sri Lanka🇱🇰
Domain : Eukaryota
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Suborder : Iguania
Family : Agamidae
Genus : Lyriocephalus
Species : L. scutatus
A large agamid lizard, widespread in the wet lowlands and the midhills of Sri Lanka, from 25m up to elevation of 1650m.
Body is laterally compressed. Pair of small spines present at back of the head. Dorso-nuchal crest developed. Forehead scales keeled. A distinct bony arch or hump appears on the head of adults, giving it its name. Tympanum absent. A V-shaped gular sac present. Large, keeled gular scales can be seen.
Tail is short and compressed with a blunt tip. Dorsum is light green, throat yellow. The rest of the venter is cream colored.
The males are bright green with a yellow throat pouch and neck sail. Although the females can also exhibit this colouration, normally they are brown, especially when a male is present. Juveniles are brown.
References- Wickramasinghe, L.J.M., Kannishka, S., Pushpamal, V., Vidanapathirana, D., Jayasekara, D., de Alwis Goonatilake, S., Sivaruban, A. & Gabadage, D. (2021). "Lyriocephalus scutatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T170409A123298967. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
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