Identification Characteristics:
This lizard species is of medium size. Males have a body length of approximately 114 mm, while females are around 107 mm. The body is dorsoventrally flattened, lacking a dorsal crest or head spines. Scales are small, mostly keratinized, with larger scales on the ventral surface than the dorsal. It possesses one or two small, horizontal gular folds. Femoral pores are arranged in two rows located on the groin region on either side of the cloaca. The tail is thick at the base. Each foot has five digits, with long toes and sharp claws. The snout is nearly as long as it is wide. The mouth is bordered by two labial scales and six rostral scales. Nostrils open directly outward. The frontal and interorbital regions are relatively large, with very small scale-like spots on the orbit. The tympanum is wide and shallow, with a diameter nearly equal to the eye’s length. There are horizontal skin folds on both sides of the neck, extending towards the nape.
Morphologically, males and females are quite similar. However, females lack the ability to expand the skin on their flanks in a threat posture. Males have a dorsal coloration ranging from brown to grayish-brown on the flanks. The middle dorsal area has a reticulated pattern of yellow spots. The ventral surface is opaque white. Notably, there are two orange-colored stripes on the flanks of males, which become highly visible when they expand their flanks. Females have yellow spots with black edges on their dorsal surface, arranged in 4 longitudinal rows extending from the nape to the base of the tail. The flanks of females lack the orange spots present in males.
Biology and Ecology:
This species is diurnal, actively foraging during the day. Their diet primarily consists of plants, including buds, shoots, and colorful fruits. They also consume beetle eggs, butterflies, and other insects.
During the mating season, males typically display to females throughout the day, then retreat into their burrows in the late afternoon, sealing the entrance with sand. Females lay 3-8 eggs in the burrow during the hot and dry season. After the first heavy rains of the season, the hatchlings emerge, exhibiting stripes and a light red tail. Newly hatched lizards remain in the burrow with their mother for several months before excavating their own nearby burrows.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Found throughout most provinces from North to South.
- Global: Thailand (excluding the Northeast) and in Tenasserim, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and possibly Singapore.