Blanford's rock agama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blanford's rock agama |
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| Psammophis blanfordanus, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India |
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Psammophilus
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blanfordanus
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The Blanford's rock agama (Psammophilus blanfordanus) is a type of lizard. It belongs to the family called Agamidae. This lizard is special because it is found only in Peninsular India. It is one of two species in its group, the Psammophilus genus. You'll mostly find it living on rocks.
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What's in a Name?
The name blanfordanus and the common name "Blanford's rock agama" honor a person. They are named after William Thomas Blanford. He was an English naturalist who lived from 1832 to 1905. He worked for the Geological Survey of India.
What Does it Look Like?
Blanford's rock agama looks a lot like its cousin, Psammophilus dorsalis. But there are a few ways to tell them apart. This lizard has a deeper fold on the front of its arm. Its body scales are a bit larger. There are usually 80 to 100 scales around the middle of its body.
The scales on its back look like they overlap. When its back leg is stretched forward, it can reach or go past its eye. Often, you might see a small spine behind its eyebrow ridge. A few larger scales are also scattered on its sides.
Colors and Size
Young lizards are olive-brown. They have spots or patterns of dark brown. These look very similar to the female lizards. Sometimes, they have large, diamond-shaped dark brown spots on their back and tail. These spots often have pale centers.
Adult male lizards change color during the summer breeding season. Their head and the front part of their body turn bright scarlet or red. The back part of their body becomes almost black.
This lizard's body, from snout to vent, is about 10 cm (3.9 in) long. Its tail is about 20 cm (7.9 in) long. Females are usually a little smaller than males.
How Does it Behave?
Blanford's rock agama spends most of its time resting or warming up in the sun. If it gets too hot, it might rest inside water holes. This helps it cool down its body temperature. The male lizards will nod their heads to show off.
What Does it Eat?
The diet of Blanford's rock agama mainly consists of insects.
How Does it Reproduce?
Blanford's rock agama is oviparous. This means the females lay eggs.
Where Does it Live?
You can find Blanford's rock agama on many hills in India. It is common from Chota Nagpur, up to Parasnath Hill at 4,500 feet (1,400 m) high. It also lives in Madhya Pradesh. The lizards extend south along the Godavari Districts and the hills of the Eastern Ghats. The southernmost place it has been found is Talayar in Travancore. A specimen was collected there by Harold S. Ferguson at 7,000 feet (2,100 m).
