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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia
Green crested lizard
Bronchocela cristatella
Family Agamidae
updated Dex 2020
Where seen? This large green lizard is very well camouflaged among the green vegetation where it may perch motionless. It is active during the day and is arboreal, found in bushes and trees usually in forested areas and inland wild places.

Features: Total length to 57cm. A slender body with small, bumpy (keeled) scales. It has a spiny crest on the back of its neck and a very long tail. Generally a plain bright bluish green although it may change to dark brown or grey. It has a dark ring around the eyes, and dark brown patch on the ears and the tip of the tail.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Oct 04

Lower Peirce Trail, Oct 03
What does it eat? It eats insects such as beetles, flies and ants.

Baby lizards: Mama lizard lays 1-4 large, spindle-shaped eggs which are buried in the soil.

Status and threats:
It is not listed among our threatened animals. But it is no longer as commonly seen as in the past. It has been displaced by the more aggressive Changeable lizard (Calotes versicolor).

Green crested lizards in Singapore
On wildsingapore flickr

Links

References

  • Lim, Kelvin K. P. & Francis L K Lim, 1992. A Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Singapore Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
  • Baker, Nick and Kelvin Lim. 2008. Wild Animals of Singapore: A Photographic Guide to Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Freshwater Fishes Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
  • Cox, Merel J., Peter Paul van Dijk, Jarujin Nabhitabhata and Kumthorn Thirakhupt. 1998. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore New Holland.
  • Das, Indraneil. 2004. A Pocket Guide: Lizards of Borneo Natural History Publications (Borneo). 83 pp.
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