
Photo: Ioannis Magouras · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Calotes calotes
Habitat
Forest
Range
Western Ghats and Shevaroy Hills of India, and Sri Lanka
Size
50–65cm including the tail
The common green forest lizard is a large agamid of forests in the Western Ghats and Shevaroy Hills of India and in Sri Lanka. It measures 50 to 65 cm in length including the tail. The head is about one and a half times as long as it is broad, with swollen cheeks and a concave forehead. A row of 8 or 9 compressed spines sits above each ear opening, and the neck and back crests are continuous, made of closely set pointed spines that are tallest on the neck of adult males (Wikipedia, general species account).
The body is compressed from side to side, the throat pouch is not developed, and there is a short oblique fold in front of the shoulder. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).