There is a world great amount animals. From the simplest, found at every step, to the extremely rare and exotic. One of the exotic animals is the dragon lizard, which will be discussed in this article.
Dragon lizard or flying dragon - belongs to the subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas(Agaminae) and is one of its most prominent representatives.
Definition
The name is due to the lateral folds of skin that allow it to fly over a distance of about 20 meters. This ability was acquired by lizards due to the fact that it is very difficult to survive while on the surface of the earth and running along the forest floor, in which predators can hide. Adapting to life on tall trees, they solved this problem. This lizard is also called: dragon, flying dragon, flying lizard and flying dragons.
Description
The flying lizard is an inconspicuous animal that blends very well with the tree on which it lives. Stealth is primarily due to its small size. The lizard's length varies from 20 to 40 cm. Most of the body length is a thin tail, which, among other things, performs the function of turning during flight. The body is narrow and can reach 5 cm in thickness.
A distinctive feature of this lizard from others is the small corrugated folds on both sides of the body. They are attached to false ribs and spread during flight, forming wings. Males have a special fold located on the throat that helps stabilize their position during flight. In addition to helping during flight, the gular fold serves to attract females and scare away opponents.
The second element What keeps them invisible on trees is their brown-gray color with a metallic sheen, which allows them to blend not only with the trees, but also with the surrounding landscape. The side membranes on both sides are painted in bright colors, which alternate one after another. The colors on the upper side shimmer in the color scheme - red, yellow, with various inclusions - spots, stripes and specks. On the bottom side you can see this picture: yellowish and bluish color here, connected with dots of different colors. Speaking about color, one cannot fail to mention the bright colors of the animal’s tail, legs and abdomen.
Habitat
Where can you find these wonderful creatures? The main habitat of flying lizards can be called:
- India;
- islands of the Malay archipelago;
- Borneo island;
- Malaysia;
- most South-East Asia.
They live in tropical forests, where there are many tall trees on the crowns of which you can comfortably sit. They practically don’t go down to the ground, only in case of egg laying or accidental fall.
Behavioral features
The behavior of flying dragons is determined by the presence of “wings” and the ability to glide over a distance of over 20 meters. It is the presence of folds that causes these reptiles to live at altitude. Their favorite height is upper layer of the forest. Even going down a little lower is already a bad option.
Flying dragons spend most of their time motionless. This is because their color helps them remain invisible while sitting on a tree without moving. They feed on ants, insect larvae and adult insects that they encounter in their habitat.
The moment flying dragons see their prey, they jump in its direction and straighten their folds. Their goal is to catch an insect in flight and land on a nearby tree. They succeed in this thanks to good maneuverability in the air, which, in turn, is achieved due to the presence of a tail and a fold under the throat.
One of characteristic features Flying lizards can be called having their own territory. Each flying lizard occupies about three trees, which it uses for hunting. If an animal the size of a flying dragon lands on one of the trees, it will first begin trying to drive away the enemy appearance, and then attacks the invader.
The female flying dragon, in turn, also has a special manner of behavior. Despite the fact that they spend most of their time in the trees, they have to descend and lay eggs in the ground.
Using their pointed nose, they dig small holes in which they lay up to four eggs. After this, they cover the holes with mud and guard them for 24 hours. After this period they return to the top.
The most common types
There are about thirty species of flying dragons. The main ones:
- Draco affinis
- Draco biaro
- Draco bimaculatus
- Draco blanfordii – Blanford's flying dragon
- Draco caerulhians
- Draco cornutus - horned flying dragon
Considering that dragon lizards spend most of their time camouflaging themselves, one should not be surprised that they have been little studied. Scientists have no information about, how long do dragons live and how many babies hatch from each egg. It is known that small flying dragons can fly immediately after hatching.
Millions of years ago. Among them there are unusual specimens that amaze with their unique appearance and abilities.
the site will introduce you to some of the representatives of ancient reptiles.
flying dragon
This is a miniature representative fairy tale character. It differs from other species and flying lizards by the skin folds on the sides of the body. Thanks to them, they can fly from one tree to another in search of food, over a distance of more than 20 meters. They live in Southeast Asia.
The dragon family of flying lizards includes about 30 species. They are relatively small in size - up to 21 cm. Moreover, the long and thin tail makes up half of the entire length. The body is colored to match the color of foliage and bark.
In the normal state, the skin folds on the sides are tightly pressed to the body. In flight, they unfold, turning into bright wings of yellow, red or Green colour. And the dragon becomes like a butterfly.
It maneuvers well in flight, changing direction and altitude, while the tail acts as a rudder. It doesn't flap its wings, but they allow it to float smoothly in the air.
flying dragon
Lifestyle of flying reptiles
Lead single image life, preferring the dense crown of trees. They also feed on larvae. And they themselves are prey for and.
Throat pouch of a bright male yellow color. In the female it is blue or of blue color. Flying dragons do not hibernate. They breed throughout the year.
Having chosen a female, the male demonstrates all his advantages to her - the color of his wings, his throat pouch. And he tries to convince her with a kind of “speech”.
If courtship is accepted, then after some time the female descends to the ground and lays 2-5 eggs in a small depression. Covers them with a small layer of soil and leaves its offspring to survive.
The cubs appear after two months with all the skills for independent existence. The lifespan of flying dragons is up to 5 years.
frilled lizard
Lives in New Guinea. It got its name from the fold of skin around the head that looks like a collar. It regulates body heat exchange and serves to intimidate enemies. In case of danger, it opens and rises around the head by 30 cm.
The frilled lizard has unusual ability run on hind legs. In this case, the torso is held vertically. Strong, tenacious paws with sharp claws help them run quickly and climb trees.
Owner of an attractive outfit
Males reach a size of up to one meter. The long tail makes up 2/3 of the total length. Females are much smaller.
During mating season the male attracts his chosen one, showing her his collar in all its glory. After mating, she lays 8-12 eggs in the sand and after about ten weeks independent offspring appear.
They lead a solitary lifestyle. They mostly live in trees, but if they don’t find food there, then they go down to the ground for prey. Omnivorous - they feed on plants, rodents, and bird eggs.
To scare the enemy, frilled lizard rises to hind legs, simultaneously opens its mouth wide and has an orange collar (does not fly). Hisses, hits long tail on the ground and runs towards the enemy. Instantly turning into an incomprehensible creature. This transformation causes snakes and dogs to flee.
Moloch - spotted devil
For its terrifying appearance, this lizard was named after the pagan god of evil, to whom sacrifices were made.
Her entire body (up to 22 cm) is covered with sharp horny spines. Moreover, they are all different sizes. The spotted devil has the ability to change body color depending on ambient temperature and lighting. It also lives in the semi-deserts of Australia.
Leads a daily lifestyle. Moves slowly on powerful legs outstretched. It lives in burrows dug in the sand and can bury itself completely in it.
What does it eat?
Despite its terrifying appearance, the moloch is actually a harmless creature - it feeds exclusively on ants. Catches them with a long sticky tongue. It eats several thousand of these insects per day.
The spotted color helps to camouflage well in the sand. In case of danger, the moloch bows its head in front of the enemy, putting forward a horny growth on its head. And significantly increases the size of the body, inflating it.
Her body is covered with sharp horny spines
Moloch can change its color within a few minutes, masquerading as its environment.
How does it reproduce
Eggs are laid between September and December. The offspring appears after 3-4 months, measuring less than one centimeter. They grow slowly and only at about five years old do the cubs grow to adult size. They live long enough for these reptiles, about twenty years.
Leaf gecko
Where do they live?
It lives on the tropical islands of Madagascar. Their unusual leaf-like appearance and color matching the color of tree bark make them invisible. The tail, with uneven edges and veins in the middle, is very similar to a dried leaf. This ability of animals is called mimicry (imitation, camouflage).
The second name (satanic gecko) was given due to its huge red eyes, which have excellent vision at night.
The size of these reptiles is 20-30cm. They live in trees and are active night look life, and during the day they hide among the foliage. They feed on insects.
The female lays two eggs several times a year. Incubation period lasts 2-3 months, depending on environmental conditions.
IN wildlife Leaf geckos live for about eight years. In a well-equipped terrarium up to 20 years.
Small belt-tailed lizards
The name was given for the ring-shaped scales with sharp spikes that encircle the entire body, leaving a small bare area on the stomach. They live in Africa and Madagascar.
When in danger, belt-tailed lizards curl up into a ring, covering their bare abdomen, and take the tail into their mouth. At the same time, sharp spikes rise on the back. With this ability they resemble hedgehogs.
During the day they lead an active lifestyle. Crevices among rocks and stones serve as shelter for them. During the dry period they can hibernate. They live in small groups in which the male is the leader.
Video about the belt-tailed lizard
What do lizards eat?
They feed not only on plants, but also on small rodents and even their own relatives. They are long-lived, living up to 25 years in the wild.
Offspring are viviparous once a year. Cubs (one to two) are born up to 6 cm in size and capable of independent life.
All lizards, whether flying or not, tolerate life well in captivity in specially equipped terrariums. You need the appropriate temperature, diet and ventilation for each species.
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The dragon lizard, or as it is also called the flying lizard, is considered one of the most prominent representatives of the subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas. These unique creatures are quite miniature in size and are able to fly thanks to their unique wings.
The flying lizard is a fairly inconspicuous animal, which, due to its small size and color, is able to blend into a tree. The length of this lizard does not exceed forty centimeters, of which most of is a tail, which, among other things, also performs the function of turning during flight. The body of all these creatures is very narrow and is about five centimeters in thickness.
Distinctive features
A distinctive feature of a dragon in the form of a lizard is that it has corrugated folds on both sides of the body, which straighten during flight and form wings. The difference between males and females is that the former have a special fold on the throat, which serves as another wing, only to stabilize the body position during flight, as well as to attract females and scare away opponents.
Another distinctive element is the brown-gray color of the individuals with a metallic sheen, which allows the lizards to be completely invisible on the tree. These creatures also have lateral membranes on both sides, which alternate one after another and are distinguished by a fairly bright color. The upper side of the dragon mainly shimmers in a variety of colors, which includes red and yellow shades, which in turn are complemented by various inclusions, stripes and spots. As for the lower side, there are mainly yellow and blue colors there. Among other things, the animal’s abdomen, tail and paws are also distinguished by bright shades.
Note! The dragon lizard is a fairly common reptile species. That is why the animal is not on the list of endangered species.
Habitats
Having first heard about such a unique creature as the flying dragon lizard, many wonder where this animal lives. Most often this animal can be found in the following places:
- in India;
- in Malaysia;
- on the islands of the Malay archipelago;
- on the island of Borneo;
- in much of Southeast Asia.
Lizards practically do not descend to the ground
In order to get food, the lizard sits on or near a tree and waits for insects to appear. As soon as the insect appears in close proximity to the reptile, it deftly eats it, without even displacing the animal’s body.
There are many legends and tales associated with dragons in the world, but what if dragon lizards exist in real world? Present to your attention flying lizard the Dragon, living on the islands of the Malay archipelago. The dragon lives in the interior of the island, mainly in the forests at the treetops.
This one is not big in size lizard that looks like a dragon They were named for a reason. The thing is that, despite their small size, they resemble those very dragons that are often depicted by artists in various science fiction novels and fairy tales.
Biologists have given lizard dragon name Draco volans, which means "flying dragon". Adults do not exceed 40-50 cm in size.
Thanks to his large size and the ability to fly, they easily cover long distances, flying from tree to tree. They gained the ability to fly thanks to a leather membrane located on the sides; during flight, it stretches and can stay in the air.
Character and lifestyle of the dragon lizard
On the skeleton of the lizard you can see enlarged lateral ribs, a very elongated tail, the bone of which gradually tapers at the end.
All this is stretched by a very strong skin membrane, it stretches and straightens during the flight of the lizard, creating air flow, which allows the lizard to plan its flight.
Males have a special hyoid process near the throat, stretched by skin, which helps them “aim” during flight and is a bit like the front part of an airplane.
With the help of its coloring, the dragon lizard is perfectly camouflaged in tropical thickets; the camouflage allows it to merge with the bark of a tree, making it almost invisible.
Thanks to its coloring, the dragon lizard is perfectly camouflaged in trees.
Lizard dragon animal very quick and elusive. Thanks to their innate ability to glide in the air and excellent camouflage, they can rightfully be considered excellent hunters.
There are not many species of lizards in nature that have the ability to fly. The dragon lizard is one of the most common. The species itself is very poorly studied, all because they lead a very hidden lifestyle. Due to the fact that they spend almost all their lives on the tops tropical trees, making them almost impossible to see up close.
Because of lizard dragon small creature, it is a target for many predators, for these reasons the lizard very rarely descends to the ground. This protects herself from all sorts of dangers.
Lizard camouflage is another universal tool that allows you to hunt and hide from other predators. When another predator approaches, the lizard freezes on the tree bark, thereby making it almost impossible to notice.
But if the dragon lizard was nevertheless noticed, it easily flies to another branch at very high speed, so even scientists are not always able to notice it during the flight.
Dragon lizard feeding
The dragon lizard is a predatory animal. Feeds mainly on small insects, various bugs and all small inhabitants tropical forest. These are mainly those that live in trees. They have very well developed hearing, which greatly improves their hunting skills and strategy.
The lizard's hunting zones are strictly separated, so they periodically have clashes over territory. The territory of this small predator sometimes does not exceed the distance between two trees, to which they fly in search of the next butterfly or small caterpillar.
If a victim is detected, it spreads its “wings”, extends its sharp claws and catches an unsuspecting victim.
They eat very little, they hardly need water due to the fact that there is always enough of it in their diet. It never descends to the ground in search of prey due to the fact that below it can almost always be caught by other predators who are not averse to feasting on the little dragon.
Their ability to fly is genetic, so even from the first minutes of life, they can engage in activities familiar to adult lizards - hunting and searching for prey.
In pet stores you can see a variety of different dragon lizard species. The varied colors and unusual structure of the lizard make them popular among lovers of exotic animals.
Surely in one of the articles on our website we have already surprised you with the fact that they exist. But this is far from the only kind reptiles that are able to travel distances through the air. So, we will tell you about the species of lizard Draco volans, which translated from Latin means “Flying Dragon”.
Flying dragons belong to the family Agamaidae, a subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas. The habitats of these strange reptiles are located in remote corners of Southeast Asia. Flying dragons live in trees tropical forests the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, the Philippines, as well as in the southeastern part of India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
In nature, there are about 30 species capable of flight. But the Draco volans species is the most common, although not fully studied due to the hidden lifestyle of these reptiles.
Flying dragons are not at all the same size as their cartoon characters. The size of this one reaches 20-40 centimeters in length. Moreover, the color of flying dragons is not very noticeable - from solid green to gray-brown. This allows them to blend in environment a habitat. But here distinctive feature flying dragons - wide skin folds on the sides of a flattened body, which, when the “false ribs” between which they are stretched open, form bright “wings”, allow these lizards to soar in the air, freely moving up and down and changing the trajectory of movement at a distance of up to 60 meters.
The structure of the “wings” of flying dragons is very unique. The lateral ribs of this lizard are significantly increased in size compared to the rest of the skeleton structure and are able to straighten the skin folds stretched between them. The resulting “wings” have a bright and variegated color - they are green, yellow, purple, with a tint, transition, with spots, specks and stripes.
An interesting fact is that males have hallmark- skin fold bright orange. Moreover, for the male sex this distinctive feature is considered a virtue, which they willingly demonstrate by sticking it forward. From a biologist's point of view, this anatomical feature is a process of the hyoid bone of males, which helps them during migration, stabilizing the body.
In general, gliding in the air for flying dragons is in itself a very useful skill that nature has endowed them with. He helps them escape from predators.
The diet of these reptiles includes insects, mainly ants, as well as insect larvae. Flying dragons live and hunt strictly in a certain territory, which, as a rule, consists of several neighboring trees. These descend from the trees only in case of an unsuccessful flight, or to lay eggs.
These flying dragons practically do not consume water; they get enough of it from the food they consume. It is also worth noting that flying dragons have a well-developed organ of hearing, which allows them to hear the approach of prey long before it appears near the reptile.
Unfortunately, the reproduction process and life expectancy of flying dragons have not yet been fully studied. The only thing that biologists managed to find out is that females lay eggs in crevices in the bark of trees. Small flying dragons appear within a few weeks and can fly from the moment they hatch.
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