Black-cheek lizard

About the Black-cheek lizard

Calotes nigrilabris, the black-cheek lizard, is an agamid species endemic to Sri Lanka. It can be distinguished easily from painted-lipped lizard by having black bar on mouth rather than white or orange bar.In Sinhalese language, it is known as "Kalu Kopul Katussa - කළු කොපුල් කටුස්සා"

A submontane and montane species, found at elevations of 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and above. This species is tolerably common at localities such as Nuwara Eliya, Pattipola, Ohiya, Hakgala Strict Nature Reserve, Horton Plains National Park, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Kandapola, Ragala, Labukele, Knuckles, Pidurutalagala, Kuda Oya, Labugolla

Head is one and a half times width. A row of spines above and at the back of tympanum. Adult male is with swollen cheeks. Gular sacs are not developed. Mid body scale rows are 42–50. Ventrals are larger than dorsals. Dorsum is green unpatterned or with black edged, cream transverse bars or eye-like spots. Head with black markings. Venter is pale green.

This species is largely arboreal, inhabiting tree trunks, hedges, and shrubs, where it hunts for insects and worms by day. In Horton Plains C. nigrilabris can be found residing... Wikipedia →