Otocryptis wiegmanni

Otocryptis wiegmanni

Brown-patched kangaroo lizard, Sri lankan kangaroo lizard, Wiegmann's agama

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Otocryptis weigmanni

Otocryptis wiegmanni, commonly called the brown-patched kangaroo lizard, Sri Lankan kangaroo lizard or Wiegmann's agama, is a small, ground-dwelling agamid lizard endemic to Sri Lanka.

Animal name origin

The specific name, wiegmanni, is in honour of German herpetologist Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann.

Appearance

O. wiegmanni may grow to an adult body size of about 7 cm (2.8 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL), plus a tail 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Its colour ranges from dark reddish brown to dull brown. Males are darker than females. Males have a maroon patch on their gular sac.

Distribution

Geography

The preferred habitat of O. wiegmanni is the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests (rainfall >2000 mm), up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft), of Sri Lanka. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter of shady rain forests.

Habits and Lifestyle

When perceiving danger, O. wiegmanni spurts away quickly on its large hind legs and might eventually climb up a sapling or tree.

Diet and Nutrition

O. wiegmanni feeds on small insects, grubs, and tender shoots.

Mating Habits

Male O. wiegmanni are territorial and can defend their territory against intruders through displays and fights. Females lay between three and five eggs in a nest in the ground between July and January, with a peak between October and January. The eggs are ellipsoidal, measuring 7 mm–7.5 mm × 10 mm–17 mm (0.28 in–0.30 in × 0.39 in–0.67 in). Hatchlings emerge after 57–70 days.

Population

References

1. Otocryptis wiegmanni Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otocryptis_wiegmanni

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About