Hydrosaurus
Encyclopedia
Hydrosaurus, commonly known as the sailfin lizards, is a genus in the family Agamidae
. These relatively large lizards are named after the sail-like structure on their tail. They are native to the Philippines
, Indonesia
and Papua New Guinea
where generally found near water, such as rivers. They are the only members of the Hydrosaurinae subfamily.
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...
. These relatively large lizards are named after the sail-like structure on their tail. They are native to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
where generally found near water, such as rivers. They are the only members of the Hydrosaurinae subfamily.
Species
- Hydrosaurus amboinensis (Schlosser, 1768) – Amboina Sailfin Lizard or Amboina Sail Finned Lizard
- Hydrosaurus pustulatus (Eschsholtz, 1829) – Philippine Sailfin Lizard, Crested Lizard, Sail-fin Lizard, Sailfin Water Lizard, or Soa-soa Water Lizard
- Hydrosaurus weberi Barbour, 1911 – Weber's Sailfin Lizard