Calotes
Encyclopedia
Calotes is a lizard
genus
in the draconine
clade
of the family Agamidae
, containing 24 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as (namely C. versicolor
) as garden lizards. They are geographically restricted to South Asia
, Myanmar, regions of Southeast Asia
, and an introduced population in Florida
. The greatest diversity of the genus is from the Western Ghats
and Northeast (India), Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
.
Calotes is distinguished from related genera in having uniform size dorsal scales, and lacking a fold of skin extending between the cheek and shoulder, and in having proportionately stronger limbs than Pseudocalotes
. Compared to Bronchocela
, Calotes have a proportionately shorter tail and limbs. Calotes as we know it today was classified by Moody (1980) prior to which all of the above mentioned genera were included in this genus.
The genus is still a heterogeneous group that may be divided into the C. versicolor and C. liocephalus groups. The former occurs through most of South Asia and further east. All species in this group have their dorsal and lateral scales directed upward. The latter is restricted to the southern Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. All species in this group have their scales directed back, or up and down, or down only. Whether further splitting is necessary or whether the groups constitute subgenera of a monophyletic Calotes remains to be studied.
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the draconine
Draconinae
Draconinae is a subfamily of reptiles in the family Agamidae found in southern Asia. Note, some taxonomies believe that these genera belong to the subfamily Agaminae.-Genera:* Acanthosaura – mountain horned dragons* Aphaniotis* Bronchocela...
clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
of the family Agamidae
Agamidae
Agamids, lizards of the family Agamidae, include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have...
, containing 24 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as (namely C. versicolor
Calotes versicolor
The Oriental Garden Lizard, Eastern Garden Lizard or Changeable Lizard is an agamid lizard found widely distributed in Asia. It has also been introduced in many other parts of the world...
) as garden lizards. They are geographically restricted to South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, Myanmar, regions of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and an introduced population in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The greatest diversity of the genus is from the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
and Northeast (India), Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Calotes is distinguished from related genera in having uniform size dorsal scales, and lacking a fold of skin extending between the cheek and shoulder, and in having proportionately stronger limbs than Pseudocalotes
Pseudocalotes
Pseudocalotes was disassociated from Calotes by Moody . Pseudocalotes is distinguished from Calotes in having weak limbs as may be noted in some of the species names brevipes. It is distinguished from the C. versicolor group in having mixed orientation of dorsal scales, and lacking spines on the head...
. Compared to Bronchocela
Bronchocela
-Classification of genus Bronchocela:*Bronchocela cristatella*Bronchocela danieli*Bronchocela hayeki*Bronchocela jubata*Bronchocela marmorata*Bronchocela smaragdina...
, Calotes have a proportionately shorter tail and limbs. Calotes as we know it today was classified by Moody (1980) prior to which all of the above mentioned genera were included in this genus.
The genus is still a heterogeneous group that may be divided into the C. versicolor and C. liocephalus groups. The former occurs through most of South Asia and further east. All species in this group have their dorsal and lateral scales directed upward. The latter is restricted to the southern Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. All species in this group have their scales directed back, or up and down, or down only. Whether further splitting is necessary or whether the groups constitute subgenera of a monophyletic Calotes remains to be studied.
Species
Listed alphabetically.- Calotes andamanensisCalotes andamanensisThe Andaman Garden Lizard or the Andaman and Nicobar Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard found on the Nicobar Islands, the Andaman Islands and Western Ghats of India. It is also known as the Green Crestless Forest Lizard or the Andaman Green Calotes...
Boulenger, 1891 – Andaman and Nicobar Forest Lizard, Green Crestless Forest Lizard - Calotes aurantolabiumCalotes aurantolabiumThe Orange-lipped Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the southern Western Ghats and is currently known from the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve...
Krishnan, 2008 – Orange-lipped Forest lizard - Calotes bhutanensis Biswas, 1975
- Calotes calotesCalotes calotesThe Common Green Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka.-Description:...
(Linnaeus, 1758) – Common Green Forest Lizard - Calotes ceylonensis (Müller, 1887) – Painted-lip Lizard, Ceylon Bloodsucker
- Calotes chincollium Vindum, 2003
- Calotes desilvai Bahir & Maduwage, 2005
- Calotes elliotiCalotes elliotiCalotes ellioti is an agamid lizard found in the Western Ghats.-Description:Upper head-scales feebly keeled, imbricate, much enlarged on supraorbital region; a small spine behind the supraciliary edge, and two others on each side, the anterior midway between the nuchal crest and the tympanum, the...
Günther, 1864 – Elliot's Forest Lizard - Calotes emmaCalotes emmaEmma Gray's Forest Lizard , also known as the Forest Crested Lizard, is an agamid lizard found in South China , India , Burma , Thailand , Laos, Vietnam , Malaysia and Cambodia.-Description:From C. A. L...
Gray, 1845 – Emma Gray's Forest Lizard, Forest Crested Lizard - Calotes grandisquamisCalotes grandisquamisCalotes grandisquamis, the Large-scaled Forest Lizard, is an agamid lizard found the forests of the Western Ghats in India and known from the Anaimalai and Brahmagiri Hills.-Links:...
Günther, 1864 – Large-scaled Forest Lizard - Calotes htunwini Zug & Vindum, 2006
- Calotes irawadi Zug, Brown, Schulte & Vindum, 2006
- Calotes jerdoniCalotes jerdoniCalotes jerdoni was an agamid lizard found in South China , India and Burma until reckless deforestation destroyed the natural habitats. They are honored by a 23 m bronze statue in Rangoon.-References:* Annandale,Nelson 1905 Contributions to Oriental Herpetology. Suppl. II...
Günther, 1870 – Jerdon's Forest Lizard - Calotes kingdonwardi (Smith, 1935) – Kingdonward's Bloodsucker
- Calotes liocephalus Günther, 1872 – Spineless Forest Lizard, Crestless Lizard, Lionhead Agama
- Calotes liolepis (Boulenger, 1885) – Whistling Lizard, Sri Lanka Agama
- Calotes mariaCalotes mariaThe Khasi Hills Forest Lizard, Calotes maria, is an agamid lizard found in India .-References:* Gray, J. E. 1845 Catalogue of the specimens of lizards in the collection of the British Museum. Trustees of the British Museum/Edward Newman, London: xxvii + 289 pp....
Gray, 1845 – Khasi Hills Forest Lizard - Calotes medogensis (Zhao & Li, 1984) – Medog Bloodsucker
- Calotes mystaceusCalotes mystaceusCalotes mystaceus, the Indo-Chinese Forest Lizard or Blue-crested Lizard, is an agamid lizard found in Southeast Asia.-Description:...
(Duméril & Bibron, 1837) – Indo-Chinese Forest Lizard, Blue-crested Lizard - Calotes nemoricolaCalotes nemoricolaCalotes nemoricola, the Nilgiri Forest Lizard, is an agamid lizard found in South India .-Description:From C. A. L. Gunther , The Reptiles of British India....
Jerdon, 1853 – Nilgiri Forest Lizard - Calotes nigrilabris (Peters, 1860) – Black-cheek Lizard
- Calotes nigriplicatus Hallermann, 2000
- Calotes rouxiiCalotes rouxiiRoux's Forest Calotes or Roux's Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:From C. A. L. Gunther The Reptiles of British India....
Duméril & Bibron, 1837 – Roux's Forest Lizard, Roux's Forest Calotes - Calotes versicolorCalotes versicolorThe Oriental Garden Lizard, Eastern Garden Lizard or Changeable Lizard is an agamid lizard found widely distributed in Asia. It has also been introduced in many other parts of the world...
(Daudon, 1802) – Oriental Garden Lizard, Changeable Lizard, Eastern Garden Lizard- Calotes versicolor nigrigularis Auffenberg & Rehmann, 1993 – Black-throated Bloodsucker