Draco blanfordii
Encyclopedia
Draco blanfordii is an agamid "flying" lizard
capable of gliding from tree to tree found in China
(SW Yunnan
), E Thailand
, W Malaysia, Myanmar
, Vietnam
, India
and Bangladesh
.
The species is named after William Thomas Blanford
of the Geological Survey of India
in British India.
of Draco indochinensis
is widest at its base, decreases in width over its entire length, and terminates in a sharp point, in contrast, the dewlap of D. blanfordii is distally expanded with a basal constriction, and terminates in a rounded distal edge. D. indochinensis also differs from D. blanfordii in the presence (in both sexes) of a thick, black transverse band that extends across the posterior gular
region from one throat lappet to the other, and in the presence of dark radial bands on the dorsal surfaces of the patagia
in both sexes rather than in females only.
Head small,snout constricted, slightly longer than the diameter of the orbit; nostril directed upwards, perfectly vertical; tympanum
naked, smaller than the eye-opening. Upper head-scales unequal, keeled , a prominent tubercle at the posterior corner of the orbit; 9 upper labials. The male's gular appendage longer than the head, very thin, covered with large scales. Male with a slight nuchal fold. Dorsal scales equal, smooth or very feebly keeled, not larger than ventrals ; a series of widely separated enlarged keeled scales alongside of back. The fore limb stretched forwards extends considerably beyond the tip of the snout; the adpressed hind limb nearly roaches the axil. Grey-brown above, with small dark spots; wing-membranes above marbled with dark brown, with lighter spots and lines, beneath immaculate; throat unspotted, greenish, pale scarlet beneath the lateral wattles.
From snout to vent 4.75 inches; tail 9. The largest species of the genus.
Flying lizard
- Animal :Flying lizard can refer to species of lizard that move by gliding between trees. They are contained by Draco :*Draco blanfordii*Draco maculatus*Draco norvillii*Draco volans- Motor Racing :...
capable of gliding from tree to tree found in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(SW Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
), E Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, W Malaysia, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
The species is named after William Thomas Blanford
William Thomas Blanford
William Thomas Blanford was an English geologist and naturalist. He is best remembered as the editor of a major series on The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma.-Biography:Blanford was born in London...
of the Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India
Geological Survey of India , established in 1851 is a government organization in India which is an attached office to the Ministry of Mines of Union Government of India for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world and the second oldest...
in British India.
Description
While the dewlapDewlap
A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. While the term is usually used in this specific context, it can also be used to include other structures occurring in the same body area with a similar aspect, such as those caused by a double...
of Draco indochinensis
Draco indochinensis
Draco indochinensis is an agamid flying lizard found in South-east Asia.-Description:It has earlier been considered synonymous to or a sub-species of Draco blanfordii. However, phylogenetic data and other supporting morphological features indicate that it is a separate species...
is widest at its base, decreases in width over its entire length, and terminates in a sharp point, in contrast, the dewlap of D. blanfordii is distally expanded with a basal constriction, and terminates in a rounded distal edge. D. indochinensis also differs from D. blanfordii in the presence (in both sexes) of a thick, black transverse band that extends across the posterior gular
Gular fold
A gular fold is a feature of the body of lizards. it is found on the ventral throat, and looks like a collar.-See also:* Gular , gular anatomical formations in other species...
region from one throat lappet to the other, and in the presence of dark radial bands on the dorsal surfaces of the patagia
Patagium
*In bats, the skin forming the surface of the wing. It is an extension of the skin of the abdomen that runs to the tip of each digit, uniting the forelimb with the body.*The patagium of a bat has four distinct parts:...
in both sexes rather than in females only.
Head small,snout constricted, slightly longer than the diameter of the orbit; nostril directed upwards, perfectly vertical; tympanum
Tympanum (zoology)
The tympanum is an external hearing structure in animals such as frogs, toads, insects, and mammals, to name a few.-Anurans:In frogs and toads, it is located just behind the eye. It does not actually process sound waves; it simply transmits them to the amphibian's inner ear, which is protected...
naked, smaller than the eye-opening. Upper head-scales unequal, keeled , a prominent tubercle at the posterior corner of the orbit; 9 upper labials. The male's gular appendage longer than the head, very thin, covered with large scales. Male with a slight nuchal fold. Dorsal scales equal, smooth or very feebly keeled, not larger than ventrals ; a series of widely separated enlarged keeled scales alongside of back. The fore limb stretched forwards extends considerably beyond the tip of the snout; the adpressed hind limb nearly roaches the axil. Grey-brown above, with small dark spots; wing-membranes above marbled with dark brown, with lighter spots and lines, beneath immaculate; throat unspotted, greenish, pale scarlet beneath the lateral wattles.
From snout to vent 4.75 inches; tail 9. The largest species of the genus.
External links
- http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Draco_b_blanfordii.jpg
- http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Draco_blanfordi.jpg
- http://www.ecologyasia.com/html-menu/species-list.htm