| Hydrosaurus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Hydrosaurus amboinensis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Subfamily: | Hydrosaurinae Kaup, 1828 |
| Genus: | Hydrosaurus Kaup, 1828 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Hydrosaurus amboinensis | |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Hydrosaurus, commonly known as the sailfin dragons or sailfin lizards, is a genus in the family Agamidae. [2] These relatively large lizards are named after the sail-like structure on their tails. They are native to Indonesia (four species) and the Philippines (one species), where they are generally found near water, such as rivers and mangrove swamps. [3] Sailfin lizards are semiaquatic and able to run short distances across water using both their feet and tail for support, similar to the basilisks. [4] They are threatened by both habitat loss and overcollection for the wild-animal trade. [3]
In the 19th century, the genus was called Lophura, but in 1903, Poche pointed out that the name was preoccupied by a genus of pheasants. [5] Since Günther in 1873, the Sulawesi populations were considered to belong to H. amboinensis; Denzer et al. in 2020 resurrected H. celebensis and H. microlophus, increasing the number of species from three to five. [5]
They are the only members of the subfamily Hydrosaurinae.
