Oriental Garden Lizard
Calotes versicolor
Reptilia
COMMON
Stats
- Lifespan
- 3-5 yrs
- Size
- Small
- Diet
- Insectivore
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Tropical forest
- Range
- South and Southeast Asia
- Movement
- Climbing
- Breeding
- Egg-laying
- Defense
- Camouflage
- Status
- Common
About
A sun-loving agamid lizard found across South and Southeast Asia that perches on garden walls and shrubs. During breeding season, males flush their heads and throats to a vivid orange-red, earning the local nickname 'bloodsucker'.
Life cycle
- 1.hatchlingA miniature lizard cuts itself free from its egg and starts hunting tiny insects within days.
- 2.juvenileA juvenile sheds repeatedly as it grows, often duller-colored than adults and quick to dart for cover.
- 3.adultFully grown with adult coloration and size.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Agamidae
- Genus
- Calotes
- Species
- Calotes versicolor