Wildlifeof India
Calotes jerdoni
Agamids & Forest Lizards
Photo: (c) Ashwin Viswanathan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Calotes jerdoni
Basic stats
Diet
Mostly insects; occasionally bird eggs, nestlings and frogs
Habitat
Forested land, on the ground and in trees
Range
India (Khasi Hills, Mizoram, Nagaland), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China (west Yunnan, Tibet)
Clutch size
11–23 eggs
Size
Up to 38.5cm in total; 32cm common
Jerdon's forest lizard, the Indo-Chinese forest lizard, is an agamid lizard of China and South Asia. It is deep green with yellow, orange or brown spots, but can turn dark brown within seconds. The body is up to 38.5 cm in total length, with 32 cm common, and the snout-to-vent length commonly about 9 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is diurnal, active both on the ground and in trees, and found in many kinds of forested land. It feeds largely on insects but sometimes takes bird eggs, nestlings and frogs. It lays eggs; the breeding season begins around April, when males develop bright colours on the forebody and chase females. The female digs a small hollow in soft earth and lays 11–23 eggs.
Quick answers
- What does the Calotes jerdoni eat?
- Mostly insects; occasionally bird eggs, nestlings and frogs
- What habitat does the Calotes jerdoni live in?
- Forested land, on the ground and in trees
- Where is the Calotes jerdoni found?
- India (Khasi Hills, Mizoram, Nagaland), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China (west Yunnan, Tibet)
- How many eggs does the Calotes jerdoni lay?
- 11–23 eggs
- How big is the Calotes jerdoni?
- Up to 38.5cm in total; 32cm common