Page 22 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Meet the family

Lizards

Lizards capture the imagination with their
dragon and dinosaur-like looks, but out of

a group of over 6,000 species, which are

the most intriguing members? GREEN BASILISK LIZARD
Basiliscus plumifrons
Class Reptilia
Green basilisk lizard

A cute reptile renowned for making miracles
Green basilisks have Territory Central America
This lizard has a remarkable talent: walking rainforests of Central America. Males have long toes on their back Diet Plants, fruit, insects, small
(or, more accurately, running) on water, a distinctive crest on their heads, which feet, with strands of vertebrates
Lifespan 10 years (in captivity)

at speeds of around 1.5 metres (five feet) is used to impress females in the hope of skin that increase Adult weight 200g (7oz)
per second. While they are also strong mating. Eggs are laid in shallow trenches their surface area. Conservation status
swimmers and can spend up to 30 by pregnant mothers, where they are left They slap their feet
on the water, making
minutes underwater, they spend most of to hatch, and young are born with the small air pockets to
their time in the trees that make up the ability to run, swim and climb. keep them afloat. LEAST CONCERN

Frilled lizard
FRILLED LIZARD
Chlamydosaurus kingii
Class Reptilia This lizard’s extra skin is a
remarkable defence
The one and only member of the Chlamydosaurus
genus, this fearsome-looking lizard is truly
unique. It is characterised by the colourful flap of

Territory Northern Australia,
southern New Guinea skin around its neck, which is fanned out when
Diet Insects, small lizards, the frilled lizard feels threatened. To ward off
small mammals attackers, it will also open its mouth wide and let
Lifespan 20 years
Adult weight Unknown out a loud hiss. This is enough to scare off many
Conservation status of its predators, which include birds of prey, larger
lizards, feral cats and snakes. If that doesn’t work,
it will dash away with its mouth still open and
LEAST CONCERN frills still extended, running as fast as it can until
it reaches a tree, which it can climb to get out of
The multi-coloured ‘frill’ or flap of harm’s way. The fringe is also used as a display of

skin is present in males, females dominance by males.
and hatchlings. As well as being
used in defence and dominance,
the frill helps the lizard to keep its
body temperature constant.

Komodo dragon

Meet the world’s biggest lizard KOMODO DRAGON
Varanus komodoensis
The gigantic Komodo dragon is a reptilian record- Class Reptilia
breaker. Not only are they the largest lizards on
Earth, but they are also the heaviest, reaching
weights of 150 kilograms (330 pounds). They are
true omnivores, and will eat anything from corpses to
humans if it takes their fancy, as they can eat up to Territory Lesser Sunda Islands,
Indonesia
80 per cent of their own body weight in one sitting. Diet Carrion, pigs, water
Their size doesn’t stop them from reaching speeds of buffalo, smaller dragons
up to 18 kilometres (11 miles) per hour in short bursts, Lifespan 50 years
Adult weight 165kg (360lb)
making them truly effective predators. The Komodo Conservation status The saliva of a Komodo dragon
contains more than 50 types of
dragon’s tactic is to use its camouflage and patience bacteria. If prey escapes with a bite, it

to lie in wait for an unsuspecting victim, and when usually dies of blood poisoning soon

one appears, use its strong legs, serrated teeth and VULNERABLE aer. The dragon, following it, will
knife-sharp claws to take down its prey. then eat the poisoned prey.
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