Calotes maria

Calotes maria, called commonly the Khasi Hills forest lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to South Asia.

Calotes maria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Calotes
Species:
C. maria
Binomial name
Calotes maria
Gray, 1845[1]

Geographic range

C. maria is found in India (Khasi Hills in Assam and Mizoram),[2] and may also be found in adjacent areas of Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sylhet Division).

Etymology

The specific name, maria, may be in honor of English conchologist Maria Emma Gray, the wife of John Edward Gray, the describer of this species.[3]

Morphology

Physical Structure: Two parallel rows of compressed scales on the head just above tympanum. Has extra flap of skin on the side of the abdomen.

Color Pattern: Body color yellowish green with blue patterns on the sides. Iris is orange-yellow with black pupil. Tail white and having brown patterns on it.

Length: Maximum: ?, Common: 11 cm. (Snout to vent 6 cm.).

Maximum published weight: ? g.

Vernacular names

Bengali: খাসি রক্তচোষা, খাসিয়া গিরিগিটি (Khasia girigiti ) (proposed)

English: Khasi Hills forest lizard and Khasi Hills bloodsucker.

Hindi, Assamese and Mizo: ?

Behavior

C. maria is terrestrial, arboreal, and diurnal.

Habitat

C. maria is found in many types of forested land, on tree trunks, branches, and green leaves. It prefers hilly regions and dense forest.

Diet

C. maria feeds on crickets, grasshoppers, moths and other insects.

Reproduction

C. maria is oviparous; more or less like Calotes versicolor. About 10-20 eggs are laid by the adult female and buried in moist soil. The incubation period is about 6–7 weeks.[4]

Uses

C. maria has no known practical uses. It plays a rôle in the ecosystem by eating various types of insects and otherwise.

Threat to humans

C. maria is non-venomous and completely harmless to humans.

IUCN threat status

C. maria is rated "Not Evaluated (NE)" by the IUCN.

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References
  1. Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxvii + 289 pp. (Calotes maria, new species, p. 243).
  2. Calotes maria at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 July 2014.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Calotes maria, p. 168).
  4. http://faunaofindia.nic.in/PDFVolumes/hpg/007/index.pdf

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. ... Agamidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Calotes maria, pp. 322–323).
  • Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Calotes maria, pp. 136–137).
  • Günther ACLG (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: The Ray Society. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I-XXVI. (Calotes maria, pp. 144–145).
  • Smith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Calotes maria, pp. 193–194).


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