Calotes liolepis
| Whistling Lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Calotes |
| Species: | C. liolepis |
| Binomial name | |
| Calotes liolepis Boulenger, 1885 | |
The whistling lizard or Sri Lanka agama (Calotes liolepis) is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. It is one of seven Calotes species endemic to Sri Lanka.
Distribution
[edit]Restricted to submontane forests below 100 m (330 ft), and found in forested areas and plantations. Widely distributed but frequently found in the central hills of Sri Lanka, including Knuckles, Kotmale, Sinharaja, Talawakele, Hanguranketha, Kanneliya, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla, Peradeniya, Namunukula, and Gampola.
Description
[edit]Whistling lizards are able to camouflage, changing color from green to brown to match their environment. The species has a relatively long head and tail, the latter often double the length of its body. A series of spines on the nape make up the dorso-nuchal crest in males, while both males and females possess scales on the dorsum of the body. Ventral scales as large as those on its flanks. The forehead is pale brown, with pale inter-orbital bands, and the dorsum is pale gray with dark gray bands. The limbs and tail are similarly dark-banded.
Ecology
[edit]Unusual among agamid lizards is its habit of uttering a high-pitched whistle when alarmed. It feeds on insects and ants. Gravid females are seen between July–August.
References
[edit]- ↑ Amarasinghe, A.; Perera, N.; Karunarathna, S.; de Alwis Goonatilake, S.; Gabadage, D.; Botejue, M. (2021). "Calotes liolepis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T197249A123312257. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197249A123312257.en. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- "Whistling Lizard/Forest Lizard (Calotes liolepis)". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. 2 October 2013.
- Calotes liolepis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- "Ceylon Common Whistling Lizard". Sri Lanka Reptile. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
- Cyabriena Asela; Kanishka Ukuwela; Imesh Nuwan Bandara; Dushantha Kandambi; Thilina D. Surasinghe; Suranjan Karunarathna. "Natural history and current distribution patterns of Calotes liolepis Boulenger 1885 (Reptilia Agamidae Draconinae) in Sri Lanka". Herpetotropicos. 8.
 | This lizard from family Agamidae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |