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The Wang’s backyard lizard, scientifically known as Calotes wangi, is a newly discovered agamid species that has joined Asia’s diverse reptile fauna. This small lizard, measuring less than 9 cm and sporting an orange tongue, can be found in subtropical and tropical forests, as well as urban areas.
The discovery of this new species was officially published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
Lead author Yong Huang and his team conducted field surveys in South China from 2009 to 2022 and collected several specimens of the Calotes versicolor species complex. 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 Wang’s backyard lizard is characterized by its small size, measuring less than 9 cm, and its distinctive orange tongue. It can be found in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mostly in mountainous areas, hills, and plains on forest edges, arable land, shrub lands, and even urban green belts. It is active at the edge of the forest and seeks shelter in bushes or climbs tree trunks when in danger. The lizards are also known to sleep close to branches on sloping shrub branches at night.
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 not currently threatened, but its habitat is fragmented in some areas. They recommend 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 suggest that the local authorities pay close attention to the protection of their ecological environment and population dynamics.
Research article:
Huang Y, Li H, Wang Y, Li M, Hou M, Cai B (2023) Taxonomic review of the Calotes versicolor complex (Agamidae, Sauria, Squamata) in China, with description of a new species and subspecies. ZooKeys 1187: 63-89. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1187.110704
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Wow, this is amazing! Can’t wait to learn more about this new species of lizard!