Malaysian Sail Finned Lizard
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Scientific name: Hydrosaurus amboinensis
Family: Agamidae
Order: Squamata
Class: Reptilia
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Malaysian Sail finned Lizards grow to 0.9144m (3 ft) long. These lizards have a small head with a long snout and oval nostrils near the tip of the snout. On the head and snout there is a crest of mostly large scales and some small scales. The body is cylindrical and compressed; the back has large lanceolate spine that is covered with small scales. There are four long limbs that are well developed; the limbs can reach the eyes or nostrils. The fingers and toes have lobes of skin. The Sail finned Lizards unique characteristic is its tail, which is twice the length of the head and body put together. The tail starts off thick and round at the base, towards the tip, it becomes flattened. The flattening of the tail helps the lizard swim. These are strong built lizards that are dark greenish-brown with black spots.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT:
These lizards are found in Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines. They are primarily within gallery forest. Juveniles can be found around ditches and humans. In the Philippines today Hydrosaurus amboinensis are disappearing because lumber companies are taking away parts of the forest that the lizards use.
BEHAVIOR:
The male lizards are combative and competitive towards other males when trying to court the females. Males usually turn to the side showing how big they are to one another. The bigger one is usually more successful and wins the bluff. Females can also be aggressive towards each other in territory disputes.
DIET:
Sail finned Lizards feed mostly on plants but are also known to eat insects, rodents and millipedes; juveniles eat 60 % prey and 40 % worth of plants. Adults eat 50 % of prey and 50 % of plants.
REPRODUCTION AND GROWTH:
Hydrosaurus amboinensis lives up to 15 or more years. They usually have 5-9 eggs only once a year. It takes about 65 days before the eggs hatch.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
Little is known about wild population because there hasnt been a census done on this species.
SUGGESTED READING:
Schmidt, K. and R. F. Inger. Living Reptiles of the World. 1957. Doubleday and Co. Inc. Garden City N.Y.
INTERESTING WEB SITES:
Kaplans M. Sailfin lizard. 1994. www.species.net/sailfin.html
CITES: Sailfin Lizard Proposal. www.xmission.com/~gastown/herpmed/hydros.htm
(Mahalo to Leeward Community College's Zoology 101 Class for their contribution)
