Appearance
''C. tennentii'' has a leaf-like appendage on the end of its nose. The species can reach lengths of over 8 inches including the tail. Males usually have more green in their coloration than females have, although they can change color to a reddish brown. Females usually have a shorter appendage on the nose. ''C. tennentii'' is not very agile and relies more on coloration than speed to avoid predators.The head is oval, and longer than wide. The rostral appendage is fleshy, laterally compressed, leaf-like with a bluntly conical scale at the tip. The lamellae under fourth toe number 23-30.
The dorsum is reddish brown to olive green. The larger flank scales are more green. The gular region and sides of the neck have dark markings. The tail has 20 dark brown cross-bands. The venter is cream-coloured.
Naming
The generic name, ''Ceratophora'', means horn bearer.The specific name, ''tennentii'', is in honour of Irish politician James Emerson Tennent, who was Colonial Secretary of Ceylon .
Status
In 2000, areas above 1,067 m above sea level were protected and labeled as conservation forest. Cardamom cultivation had to be abandoned in this area. However, rather than natural regeneration, the cardamom range was taken over by invasive weeds such as mistflower and lantana . ''C. tennentii'' was placed on the endangered list by the IUCN in 2006.Behavior
''C. tennentii'' is diurnal, and therefore is usually only active in the day. Very little is actually known about the behaviour of this unusual lizard.Habitat
''C. tennentii'' is found in the wet tropical montane cloud forests of the Knuckles mountains in Sri Lanka at elevations of 760–1,220 m . It has also been recorded in several other forest habitats.Reproduction
''C. tennentii'' lays eggs and is a sexually reproducing animal.Food
''C. tennentii'' is reported to feed on insects and other small arthropods.Predators
Threats to ''C. tennentii'' include deforestation, pesticides, climate change, forest fires, and bioaccumulation. Much of its habitat has been cleared for illegal logging and the cardamom, coffee, tea, and rubber plantations over the past two centuries.References:
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