Researchers have described a new species of this genus. Calotes From southern China and northern Vietnam.
Photographs of living specimens and their habitats: (A) holotype; Calotes Wangi; Holotype of (B) Calotes Wangi hainanensis; Allotype of (C) Calotes Wangi; Allotype of (D) Calotes Wangi hainanensis(E,F) Habitat. (G) Illustration of the oral cavity. Image credit: Huang other., doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704.
genus Calotes There are at least 29 species worldwide, but they are primarily distributed in South and Southeast Asia.
Most species in this genus have narrow geographical distributions; Calotes versicolorIt is found mainly throughout the Asian continent, from southeastern Iran in the west to southern China and Indonesia in the east.
“From 2009 to 2022, we conducted a series of field surveys in southern China and collected a large number of specimens. Calotes versicolor We now know that species are complex and that populations of the species we thought existed. Calotes versicolor “A new undescribed species and two subspecies were found in southern China and northern Vietnam,” said Yong, a researcher at Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ethnomedical Resources.・Dr. Hwang said.
One’s Garden Lizard (Calotes Wangi), the new species is less than 9 centimeters long and one of its distinguishing features is its orange tongue.
“Calotes Wangi It lives in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests of southern China and northern Vietnam, and is mainly found in mountainous areas, forest-edge hills and plains, cultivated land, scrublands, and even green areas in urban areas. ” said Dr. Huang.
“They are active on the edges of forests, and when threatened they will rush into bushes or climb tree trunks to hide.”
“Investigations revealed that the lizard was lying on sloping shrub branches and sleeping close to them at night.”
Calotes Wangi They are active from April to October each year, but in the tropics from March to November or longer, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods.
Researchers estimate that the new species is not at risk of extinction, but note that its habitat is fragmented in some areas.
“In addition, their bodies are used for medicinal purposes and the lizards are also eaten,” they said.
“This is why we propose that local governments strengthen the protection of the ecological environment and pay close attention to population dynamics.”
The authors report their findings in the following paper. paper in a diary Zookie.
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Y fan other. 2023. Taxonomic review of Calotes versicolor Chinese complex (Agamidae, Sauriaceae, Squamidae). Contains descriptions of new species and subspecies. Zookie 1187: 63-89; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704
Source: www.sci.news
