Calotes mystaceus

Calotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard or blue crested lizard, is an agamid lizard found in China, South Asia and Southeast Asia.^[2]

Calotes mystaceus in Keibul Lamjao National Park, India.

Indo-Chinese forest lizard
Calotes mystaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Agamidae
Genus:	Calotes
Species:	C. mystaceus
Binomial name
Calotes mystaceus Duméril & Bibron, 1837[1]

Description/Identification

Thailand.

Physical Structure: Upper head-scales smooth or feebly keeled, imbricate, scarcely enlarged on supraorbital region; a few small spines on each side of the head above the tympanum; latter measuring at least half the diameter of the orbit. Gular sac small; gular scales feebly keeled, as large as dorsals. An oblique fold in front of the shoulder. Dorso-nuchal crest well developed in the male, composed of falciform spines directed backwards, the longest measuring the diameter of the orbit; it gradually decreases in height on the back, being reduced to a mere denticulation on the sacrum. 45-53 scales round the middle of the body; dorsal scales keeled, nearly twice as large as ventrals, all directed upwards and backwards; ventral scales strongly keeled. The adpressed hind limb reaches the tympanum or the posterior border of the orbit; fourth finger slightly longer than the third. Tail a little compressed, at the base with a slightly serrated upper ridge.

Color Pattern: Background color grey to olive, frequently with large transverse red spots on the back; lips yellowish.^[3]

Length: Maximum: 42 cm. Common: 28 cm. (Snout to vent 9.5 cm).^[4]

Male Calotes mystaceus from Thailand

Distribution

Cambodia, China (Yunnan), India (Mizoram), Laos, Myanmar (Tenasserim to Naypyitaw = Naypyitaw, Mandalay, and Kachin State [26°00N, 97°30E]), Thailand (Chiang Saen) (north of the Isthmus of Kra), & Vietnam (South).^[2] It is also reported from Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill tracts), adjacent to Mizoram province of India.^{[citation needed]} The Indochinese Bloodsucker is first documentation in Florida from Okeechobee County and Glades County.

Vernacular names

• Bengali: নীল-মাথা গিরিগিটি, romanized: Neel-matha girigiti or নীলা রক্তচোষা (proposed)

• Burmese: ပုတ်သင်ညို, romanized: Pote Thin Nyo

• Chinese: 白唇树蜥

• English: Blue-crested lizard, Indo-Chinese bloodsucker, Indo-Chinese forest lizard, White-lipped calotes

• Hindi: girgit

• Khmer: បង្គួយក្បាលខៀវខាងលិចទន្លេមេគង្គ

• Lao: ກະປອມ, romanized: gabpom

• Thai: กะปอม, romanized: gabpawm or กิ้งก่า, (ginggaa)

Habitat

Terrestrial & arboreal; diurnal; naturally found in forest, but can be found in treed neighborhoods and city parks.

Diet

Feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, moths, and other insects.

Reproduction

The Indo-Chinese forest lizard is oviparous.^[2]

Uses

No known practical uses. Plays an insectivorous role in its ecosystem.

Threat to humans

Non-venomous and harmless to humans. Can give a painful bite if handled, but is not dangerous.

IUCN threat status

Not Evaluated (NE).