Indian Garden Lizard

The Indian garden lizard, also called the oriental garden lizard, bloodsucker or changeable lizard, is an agamid found across Indo-Malaya and introduced to many other parts of the world. It is an insect eater. Adults measure over 10 cm from snout to vent and up to 37 cm including the tail. Its colour is very variable, from uniform brownish, greyish-olive or yellowish to a pattern of broad brown bands across the back interrupted by a yellowish stripe along the flank. Black streaks radiate from the eye across the throat, and there are two small groups of spines above each ear opening (Wikipedia, general species account).

In the breeding season the male develops a bright red throat. The dorsal crest is moderately raised on the neck and front of the body and fades along the trunk, and there is no developed throat sac. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).