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The Wang’s backyard lizard, scientifically known as Calotes wangi, is a newly discovered species that has joined Asia’s diverse reptile fauna. This small lizard, measuring less than 9 cm and with an orange tongue, can be found in subtropical and tropical forests, including urban areas.
In 2022, a team of researchers officially described this new species in the open-access journal ZooKeys. According to Yong Huang, the leader of the team, they conducted field surveys in South China from 2009 to 2022 and collected several specimens of the Calotes versicolor species complex. Through their research, they discovered that the population of what was previously thought to be Calotes versicolor in South China and Northern Vietnam was actually a new undescribed species and two subspecies.
The newly discovered Wang’s backyard lizard is characterized by its small size and orange tongue. It can be found in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mainly in mountainous areas, hills, and plains on forest edges, arable land, shrub lands, and even urban green belts. This species is active at the edge of the forest and seeks shelter in bushes or climbs tree trunks when in danger. The lizards have been observed sleeping close to branches on sloping shrub branches at night.
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The Wang’s backyard lizard is active from April to October every year, while in the tropics it is active from March to November and even longer. It feeds on a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods.
According to the researchers, the new species is currently not threatened, but they do note that its habitat is fragmented in some areas. They suggest that local authorities strengthen the protection of its ecological environment and closely monitor its population dynamics.
The researchers also note that the lizards are used for medicinal purposes and are also consumed as food. Therefore, they recommend that local authorities take measures to protect their habitat and closely monitor their population dynamics.
Research article:
Huang Y, Li H, Wang Y, Li M, Hou M, Cai B (2023) Taxonomic assessment of the Calotes versicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies. ZooKeys 1187: 63-89.
Wow, this is so exciting! I can’t wait to learn more about this new species of iguana in China.