Whistling Lizard

The whistling lizard, or Sri Lanka agama, is one of the Calotes species endemic to Sri Lanka. It is widely distributed but often found in the central hills, with records from Knuckles, Kotmale, Sinharaja, Kandy, Dambulla and Peradeniya, in forest and plantations. It changes colour from green to brown to match its surroundings. The head and tail are relatively long, the tail often double the body length, and males have a crest of spines on the nape. The forehead is pale brown and the back pale grey with dark grey bands (Wikipedia, general species account).

Unusually for an agamid, it utters a high-pitched whistle when alarmed. It feeds on insects and ants, and gravid females are seen in July and August. Nationally Near Threatened (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).