Reptiles
INDO-MALAYAN Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest

Order Squamata: Lizards and Snakes

Family Agamidae, Dragons

I didn't realise until I started sorting out and putting my photos on this webpage, how many species of agamids there are in Asian rainforest...

Calotes spp.

There are some 28 species in this genus. They are only found in tropical Asia.

Calotes versicolour, 'Oriental Garden Lizard', 'Changeable Lizard'. So called 'Changeable' as the colours can indeed change colour quickly! This was within a minute or two. A common lizard throughout south-east Asia.

Calotes calotes, 'Common Green Forest Lizard'. Despite the unenthusiastic common names, this can be a stunningly coloured dragon.

Calotes emma, 'Emma Gray's Forest/Crested Lizard'. Variable lizard, appearing in many colours and forms, but best distinguished by single separate spine above eye, and two smaller ones above typanum. Widespread across tropical Asian mainland from India to southern China and south to peninsula Malaysia.

Calotes nigrilabris, 'Black-lipped Lizard'. Endemic to Sri Lanka, where it usually found at high altitude above 1000 metres.

Ceratophora spp.

Found in Sri Lanka.

Ceratophora stoddartii, 'Rhino Horned Lizard'.  Endemic to Sri Lanka, where it usually found on moss-laden branches of shrubs in high altitude cloud forest.

Bronchocela spp.

Bronchocela cristatella, 'Green Crested Lizard'. 

Acanthosaura spp. 'Mountain Horned Dragons', 'Horned Tree Lizards', 'Pricklenape Agamids'

Distinctive feature are the spines that are found on the middle of the back of the neck. Found in forest south-east Asia. Popular in the pet trade.

Acanthosaura 'Mountain Horned Lizard'.

Draco spp.'Gliding Lizards'

These amazing lizards are common, but often difficult to see at first. They are usually noticed clinging upright on tree trunks. The males will often display a bright flap of skin from their neck, the gular flag. They get their common name from the fact that they can glide long distances using their wing-like, patagia; stretched skin supported by elongated thoracic ribs.

Draco, 'Flying Lizard'.

Family Gekkonidae, Geckos

Geckos in Asia are mostly nocturnal. They are one of the few reptiles that make sounds that we humans can hear. The region includes two notable species; the 'original' Tokay Gecko for which the sound is named (pictured above), and the 'South-east Asian House Gecko' that has spread around many homes around the tropical world.

Gekko gecko, 'Tokay Gecko'.. This is the 'orginal gecko'. The name 'gecko', 'tokay' and all the other similar common names throughout Asia come from the loud call of this species. It is a large lizard, up to 30 cm long. It often has bright orange spots. This species is mostly found on trees in tropical rainforest across tropical Asia and into some Pacific islands, but also around human habitation within that range.

Tokay Gecko and young.

Family Scincidae

Dasia vittata, 'Borneo Striped Skink'. Endemic to the forests of Borneo.

Lamprolepis smaragdina philippinica, 'Philippine Green Spotted Skink (Philippine variation of 'Emerald Green Tree Skink').

Family Varanidae: Monitors

Varanus salvator, 'Asian Water Monitor'. The most common and the largest monitor lizard in tropical Asia.

As with other monitors that have evolved to swim regularly in water, it's tail is laterally compressed, like a paddle. The Asian water monitor is found in a variety of habitats, including urban gardens and canals. It is distributed from India, across all over south-east Asia, north to southern China, and down to Sulawesi. 

Sub-order Serpentes: Snakes

Family Viperidae

Calloselasma rhodostoma, 'Malayan Pit Viper'. A small specimen with lighter for scale.

Family Colubridae

Probably Oligodon sp. 'Kukri Snake'.

Order Crocodilia

Family Gavialidae

Tomistoma schlegelii, 'Malayan/False Gharial'. Very long snout, but not quite as uniformly slim as the gavial. The slim snout suggested fish was the main diet, but they have also been reported to eat other animals up to the size of Proboscis monkeys. They are generally considered harmless to humans, but locals claimed they have eaten people. Found in freshwater, especially peat swamps, in Malaysia and Indonesia.

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