Identification:
This species is the largest among the Ophisaurus found in Vietnam. The maximum recorded total length is 0.6 meters, with the tail comprising two-thirds of the body length. Adult individuals are light reddish-brown with turquoise crossbars on their backs. Juveniles are a muted gray-brown with small black spots. A dark brown stripe runs from the snout, along the upper flank above the lateral groove, to the tail, and a second, narrower stripe is located below the groove. Shiny, rectangular scales form continuous ridges arranged in straight, horizontal rows.
Biology and Ecology:
This species is found in high-altitude regions, typically above 1,000 meters, with a cold climate, and is only found in the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam. These lizards inhabit the decaying leaf litter beneath the forest floor, crevices, and rock caves in the lower tree strata where the leaf litter is thick and moist. They are rarely seen. When captured or strongly disturbed, they often feign death to deceive predators and attempt to escape. During rainy days, they regulate their body temperature by basking on rocks or decaying tree trunks. Their diet primarily consists of insects. They lay 4 to 7 eggs in the leaf litter of the forest floor at the end of the rainy season. The females exhibit guarding and protective behavior towards their eggs. Newly hatched juveniles are approximately 1.8 cm long.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Cao Bang (Ngan Son), Lao Cai (Sapa), Vinh Phu (Tam Dao), Ha Tay (Ba Vi), Son La (Moc Chau, Chieng Di), Nghe An (Ky Son)
- Global: Southern China and northern Myanmar, and areas around the Himalayan foothills of northern India.