Nilgiri forest lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nilgiri forest lizard |
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| C. nemoricola from Pookode Lake, Wayanad | |
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| Calotes nemoricola | |
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| Genus: |
Calotes
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| Species: |
nemoricola
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The Nilgiri forest lizard (Calotes nemoricola) is a type of lizard that lives in the forests of the Western Ghats in India. You can find it in places like the Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai, and Coorg. This lizard is known for its bright green color and its unique crests. It was first described by a scientist named Jerdon in 1853.
What Does It Look Like?
The Nilgiri forest lizard is a fascinating reptile. It can grow quite long, sometimes up to 18 inches (about 45 centimeters)! Its body is often a vibrant green, but it can also be brownish. It might have faint darker patterns on its skin.
Head and Face
This lizard has a head that is longer than it is wide. Its snout, which is like its nose area, is longer than its eye. The top of its head has scales that are not all the same size. There are usually three or four pointed spines right above its ear opening, which is called the tympanum. These spines are quite noticeable. You might also see a black stripe running from its eye to above its ear.
Body and Scales
The Nilgiri forest lizard has a body that looks a bit flattened from side to side. The scales on its sides are very large and smooth. However, the scales on its belly are smaller and have a ridge, which means they are "keeled." Around the middle of its body, there are usually between 36 and 43 scales.
It has a small pouch under its throat called a gular sac. The scales on this pouch are smaller and more strongly keeled than the scales on its lower jaw. In living lizards, this gular pouch is often pink!
Crests and Limbs
One of the coolest features of this lizard is its crests. It has a crest on its neck (nuchal crest) and another along its back (dorsal crest). These crests are connected. The neck crest is well-developed and has about 12 pointed spines. The longest of these spines can be almost as long as its eye! The crest on its back is much lower.
Its legs are of medium length. The third and fourth fingers on its front feet are almost the same length. On its back feet, the fourth toe is a little longer than the third. When it stretches its hind leg forward, it can reach its ear opening, or almost that far.
Tail
The tail of the Nilgiri forest lizard is slightly flattened from side to side. It is covered with scales that are all about the same size and are keeled. In fully grown male lizards, the base of the tail can look swollen, and the scales there are thicker.
