Identification
Body flattened dorsoventrally, lacking a dorsal crest and head spines. Dorsal scales are small, while ventral scales are larger, with a row of pores (femoral pores) on the ventral side, numbering 20-23. The dorsal surface exhibits olive-colored, hexagonal spots and four pale yellow stripes running parallel from the anterior to the posterior of the body. The average body length is 120.8 mm, with an average tail length of 290 mm, and an average weight of 56g.
Biology and Ecology
Diurnal, with a diet primarily consisting of flowers and leaves from plants such as Tràng quả sục sặc (Papillionaceae), Asteraceae, and Rutaceae. They also consume insects like grasshoppers, crickets, bees, ants, and ladybugs. The diet of juveniles is similar to that of adults, including tràng quả, grasshoppers, crickets, bees, and ants. No males have been observed. Females lay eggs from April to July each year. They inhabit burrows in sand dunes along the coast, ranging from 50-100 meters, or in hilly regions and fields in the plains on sandy or sandy-loam soils. The vegetation consists of characteristic plants like Sim, Mua, grasses, and reed. They dig their own burrows, which are winding and segmented. Besides the main burrow entrance, there are also secondary entrances that are either sealed or cleverly camouflaged for escape when threatened.
Distribution
Vietnam: Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên – Huế, Quảng Nam – Đà Nẵng, Khánh Hòa (Nha Trang).
Worldwide: India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, southern China (including Hainan Island), Malaysia, Indonesia.
Value
Of scientific and aesthetic value; can be kept in zoos to aid students in studying their morphology and behavior.
Status
The population of sand lizards is declining due to hunting for medicinal purposes and food. Threat level: Endangered (T).
Conservation Measures
Prohibit hunting, protect their natural habitats, and establish captive breeding programs.