Physical Structure: A compressed-bodied lizard. This species resembles Calotes maria in pholidostic (scale) and other characters except that it has 45-57 scales round the body; gular scales much larger than the ventral scales; there is an oblique curved fold covered with small granular scales in front of the shoulders; nuchal crest less prominent; the hind-limb reaches to the eye or not quite so far.[3] Dorsal and lateral scales directed upward.
Color Pattern: Deep-green dorsal coloration with yellow, orange or brown spots, but in many cases can make the body into a dark brown within a few seconds.
Length: Maximum total length (including tail): 38.5 cm (15.2 in).[3] Common total length: 32 cm (13 in). Common snout-to-vent length (SVL) : 9 cm (3.5 in).
English: Green forest lizard, Green garden lizard, Indo-Chinese forest lizard and Jerdon's forest lizard.
Hindi & Assamese: ?
Habit & Habitat
Terrestrial & arboreal; diurnal;[3] found in many types of forested land. Prefers dense and bushy hill forest.[4] A skillful and an adept climber, it moves over trees and bushes rather swiftly. It is active during the day time.[4]
Diet
Insectivorous; feeds largely on insects but at times bird-eggs, nestlings, and frogs too are eaten up.[4]
Reproduction
Oviparous; breeding season begins around April when males develop bright coloration in the forebody and begin to chase females. Female digs a small hollow in soft earth and lays 11-23 eggs in it for incubation and safety.[4]
Uses
No known practical uses. Play rolls in ecosystem by eating various types of insects and otherwise.
^Calotes jerdoni. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Calotes jerdoni, p. 134).
Annandale N (1905). "Contributions to Oriental Herpetology. Suppl. II. Notes on the Oriental lizards in the Indian Museum, with a list of the species recorded from British India and Ceylon". J. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal1 (2): 81–93.
Günther A (1870). "Descriptions of a New Indian Lizard of the Genus Calotes ". Proc. Zool. Soc. London1870: 778-779 + Plate XLV. (Calotes jerdoni, new species).
