Wildlifeof India
Salea horsfieldii
Agamids & Forest Lizards
Photo: Ansil B. R. · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Salea horsfieldii
Basic stats
Habitat
Forest and high-altitude grassy hills, 1,600–2,500m
Range
Nilgiri Hills, India
Size
Head and body about 9.5cm; tail about 24.8cm
Horsfield's spiny lizard, or the Nilgiri salea, is an agamid lizard endemic to the Nilgiri Hills of India. It is olive brown to green, with a white banded look. The snout is about 1.5 times as long as the eye diameter, which is about twice the diameter of the ear opening. The head scales are large and rough, and the tail scales are strongly keeled. Head and body measure about 9.5 cm and the tail about 24.8 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is found mainly in the high-altitude grassy hills, in forest at 1,600–2,500 m. A related species, the Anaimalai spiny lizard, lives in the grassy hills of the Anaimalai Hills. The Reptile Database also lists the Palni Hills and Kerala.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Salea horsfieldii live in?
- Forest and high-altitude grassy hills, 1,600–2,500m
- Where is the Salea horsfieldii found?
- Nilgiri Hills, India
- How big is the Salea horsfieldii?
- Head and body about 9.5cm; tail about 24.8cm