Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard

The Sri Lanka kangaroo lizard, also called Wiegmann's agama, is a small ground-dwelling agamid endemic to Sri Lanka. Adults reach about 7 cm from snout to vent with a tail of about 15 cm. Colour runs from dark reddish brown to dull brown, males being darker than females, and males carry a maroon patch on the throat sac. It lives in the leaf litter of shady rain forest in the wet zone and lower mountain forest (rainfall over 2,000 mm) up to 1,300 m (Wikipedia, general species account).

When alarmed it dashes away on its large hind legs and may climb a sapling or tree. It feeds on small insects, grubs and tender shoots. Males are territorial and defend territories with displays and fights. Females lay three to five eggs in a ground nest, mainly between July and January with a peak from October to January, and hatchlings emerge after 57 to 70 days. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).