''Calotes ceylonensis'', commonly known as the painted-lipped lizard or the Ceylon bloodsucker, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Agamidae Agamidae is a family (biology), family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Overview phylogenetics, Phylogenetic ...

. It is one of four ''

Calotes ''Calotes'' is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae. The genus contains 29 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as " bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others (namely '' C. versicolo ...

'' species

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

Habitat

''C. ceylonensis'' is confined to monsoon forests, plantations, and home gardens in the dry and intermediate zones of Sri Lanka.

Geographic range

Localities in Sri Lanka at which ''C. ceylonensis'' has been collected include Mankulam, Elahera,

Nilgala Nilgala is a village in Sri Lanka. It is located within Central Province. See also * List of towns in Central Province, Sri Lanka External links * {{KandyDistrict-geo-stub Populated places in Kandy District ...

Minneriya National Park Minneriya National Park ( si, මින්නේරිය ජාතික වනෝද්‍යානය, translit=Minnēriya Jātika Vanōdyānaya; ta, மின்னேரியா தேசிய வனம், translit=Miṉṉēriyā Tēci ...

Sigiriya Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (''Lion Rock'' si, සීගිරිය, ta, சிகிரியா/சிங்ககிரி, pronounced see-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla ...

, Kandalama, Laggala, Kumana National Park, Puttalam and Kumbalgamuwa, up to elevation of about .

Description

''C. ceylonensis'' is a colorful, arboreal agamid. The length of the head is one and half times the width. The body is laterally compressed. The tail is long and slender, about or over twice the head-body length. The cheeks are swollen. Two separated spines can be seen above the tympanum. The nuchal crest is formed with low spines. Midbody scale rows number 54–60. The dorsum is brown, with indistinct brown crossbands. The head and anterior part of body are blackish-brown. There is a bright red or reddish-orange stripe on the upper lip that extends to the back of the head. When the lizard is threatened, or agitated by stress, the brown-colored lip turns to a bright white color, as does the dorso-nuchal crest. The throat of adult males is black. The tail is brown with dark crossbands. The venter is pale brown with darker crossbands. Calotes ceylonensis at Kandalama

Behavior

''C. ceylonensis'' is active during the day on tree trunks.

Diet

The diet of ''C. ceylonensis'' comprises

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pairs ...

s and other

arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...

Reproduction

About 5–10 eggs, measuring , are produced at a time.

References

* Boulenger GA. 1890. ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia.'' London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (''Calotes ceylonensis'', pp. 139–140). * Müller F. 1887. "''Fünfter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums'' ". ''Verhandlung der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Basel'' 8: 249–296. ("''Calotes mystaceus'' var. ''ceylonensis'' " = ''Calotes ceylonensis'', new species, pp. 292–293). (in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

). * Smith MA. 1935. ''The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria.'' London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (''Calotes ceylonensis'', pp. 202–203). ceylonensis Lizards of Asia Reptiles of Sri Lanka Endemic fauna of Sri Lanka Reptiles described in 1887 Taxa named by Fritz Müller (doctor) {{agamidae-stub