The Common Gliding Lizard

Common Gliding Lizard (Draco Sumatranus)
Source: Ecology Asia



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Three views of an adult male Common Gliding Lizard seen simultaneously displaying its gular flag and patagium while
feeding on tiny ants. Singapore.

Family : Agamidae
Species : Draco sumatranus
Size (snout to vent) : 9 cm
Size (total length) : 22 cm

The Common Gliding Lizard Draco sumatranus is generally encountered in disturbed or man-made habitats such as parks and gardens or wayside trees, where abundant sunlight is the norm. It is rarely found in the shade of primary or mature secondary forests, preferring to keep to the forest edge.

Its dorsal surface is symmetrically mottled with light brown and dark brown, and the patagium is black with brown mottling.

The triangular gular flag of the male is mainly bright yellow, but at the base is pale yellow to white and mottled with dark flecks. The forehead and crown of the male is often turquoise to bluish. The female possesses a small, mottled blue gular flag.

The species has been observed to feed mainly on small ants.

It was once considered a subspecies of Draco volans (i.e. D. volans sumatranus) but was recently elevated to species status.

The Common Gliding Lizard ranges from southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to Sumatra and Borneo (including the adjacent Philippine island of Palawan).