The fan-throated lizard is a species of agamid lizard found in India. It was earlier thought to be widespread but studies in 2016 resulted in the splitting of the group into several species placed in two genera.
The species is found mostly on the ground in open ground patches in thin forests. When disturbed this lizard sometimes runs with a bipedal gait.
Similar species: Scaled Reptiles
By Sameer Deshpande
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Uploaded May 28, 2018. Captured in 87, Mahatma Society, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411058, India.
comments (23)
Posted 4 years ago
Posted 4 years ago
"Fast, flamboyant, and fearless! This fan-throated lizard (Sitana ponticeriana), which lives in India’s arid scrubland, flashes its fabulous dewlap to communicate, intimidate, and show-off! The dewlap comes in particularly handy during mating season, which is when males will scamper up a tall rock, assess their territory, arch their backs, and unfurl the loose skin on their neck to flaunt their dewlap in hopes of wooing a potential mate. Such a flashy ornament is costly because revealing it, even for a second, takes away from the lizard's camouflage. However, they are generally pretty daring, and if danger approaches, they simply dash away with remarkable speed, running with a bipedal gait. {Spotted in India by JungleDragon user, Sameer Deshpande} #JungleDragon" Posted 4 years ago