Philippine sailfin lizard
Hydrosaurus pustulatus, commonly known as the Philippine sailfin lizard or the Philippine sailfin dragon, is a large semiaquatic agamid lizard endemic to all of the major island groups of the Philippines, with the exception of the Palawan islands.[1][2][3][4] Like other sailfin lizards, they are characterized by large sail-like dorsal crests on their tails. They can grow to a maximum length of around 3 to 4 ft (0.91 to 1.22 m). They are strong swimmers, and smaller juvenile lizards can run briefly on the water surface. They inhabit areas of heavy vegetation near coastlines and low-lying rivers, particularly in mangrove forests.[3] They are also known locally as layagan or balubid in Tagalog and ibid in the Visayan languages, among other names.[5][6]
H. pustulatus is a protected species in the Philippines, as it is a target for the international exotic pet trade for their unique dorsal crests and bright coloration.[7][3] The heavy deforestation of mangrove habitats in the last few decades is also a concern to their conservation.[3] This species is the National reptile of the Philippines[n 1]. It's a fascinating reptile known for its large size and distinctive sail-like crest on its back.
References
- ↑ H. pustulatus, The Reptile Database
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedIUCN - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Siler, Cameron D.; Lira-Noriega, Andrés; Brown, Rafe M. (January 2014). "Conservation genetics of Australasian sailfin lizards: Flagship species threatened by coastal development and insufficient protected area coverage". Biological Conservation. 169: 100–108. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2013.10.014.
- ↑ "Lizard, Philippine Sailfin". Louisville Zoo. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ "Third Quarter Topical Issue - Philippine Endemic Lizards". PhlPost. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ↑ Mascariñas, Erwin M. (2 June 2018). "PH sailfin lizards in Misamis Oriental: An unusual case of a community lizard". ABS-CBN. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
We are now finalizing the steps to have this area along the lower Solana River in the town of Misamis Oriental declared as a critical habitat for the Hydrosaurus pustulatus or the Philippine Sailfin Lizard commonly known as ibid.
- ↑ "Endemic Philippine Sailfin Lizard threatened by illegal wildlife trade". Monitor Conservation Research Society. Monitor. June 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
External links
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Notes
- ↑ “The Official National reptile of the Philippines respectively”
