Hump Snout Lizard

About the Hump Snout Lizard

Lyriocephalus is a genus of lizard within the agamid family, with the sole species Lyriocephalus scutatus. It is the largest agamid endemic to Sri Lanka and lives in dense wet zone forests. It is also called the hump-nosed lizard, hump snout lizard or the lyreshead lizard.

A large agamid lizard, widespread in the wet lowlands and the midhills of Sri Lanka, from 25m up to elevation of 1650m. It is easily sighted at the Pitadeniya area of the Sinharaja World Heritage Site. Body is laterally compressed. Pair of small spines present at back of the head. Dorso-nuchal crest developed. Forehead scales keeled. A distinct bony arch or hump appears on the head of adults, giving it its name. Tympanum absent. A V-shaped gular sac present. Large, keeled gular scales can be seen. Tail is short and compressed with a blunt tip. Dorsum is light green, throat yellow. The rest of the venter is cream colored.

The males are bright green with a yellow throat pouch and neck sail. Although the females can also exhibit this colouration, normally they are brown, especially when a male is present. Juveniles are brown. Inhabits forests with... Wikipedia →