Mountain Horned Agama

About the Mountain Horned Agama

The rhino-horned lizard (Ceratophora stoddartii), also commonly known as Stoddart's unicorn lizard and the mountain horned agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is called kagamuva angkatussa-කගමුව අං කටුස්සා in Sinhala.

The specific name, stoddartii, is in honor of Charles Stoddart, who was a British army officer and diplomat. C. stoddartii is found widespread in montane forests of central Sri Lanka. Localities from which it has been recorded include Nuwara Eliya, Hakgala, Pattipola, Ohiya, Horton Plains National Park, Hewaheta, Dimbula, Agarapathana, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Galway's Land National Park, Knuckles, Galaha, Namunukula, Pidurutalagala, Haputale, Balangoda, Maratenna, Loolecondera, Moratiya state forest in Aranayake, Kegalla and Sandaraja Wana Arana in Kegalla.

The head of C. stoddartii is oval, and longer than wide. The rostral appendage is long, horn-like, about two thirds the length of the snout in males, but is reduced or even absent in females. The lamellae under the fourth toe number 23–27. The dorsum is brownish green or yellowish brown. The... Wikipedia →