| Lophosaurus dilophus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lophosaurus dilophus; Lakekamu Basin, Papua New Guinea. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Lophosaurus |
| Species: | L. dilophus |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophosaurus dilophus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Lophosaurus dilophus, the crowned forest dragon or Indonesian forest dragon, is a large arboreal agamid lizard found in New Guinea and the Moluccan islands, Indonesia.
A large, short-tailed species with heterogeneous dorsal scalation and a discontinuous vertebral crest. There are several slightly enlarged scales below the tympanum, a row of enlarged submaxillaries and a series of large, lanceolate scales on the anterior edge of the gular pouch.
The species differs visually from Boyd's forest dragon, as it lacks the large, conical scales below the tympanum; additionally, it differs from the southern forest dragon in that it has lanceolate scales on the nuchal and dorsal crests, rather than triangular. Overall, the species differs from hypsilurid lizards in that it has a heterogeneous (rather than homogeneous) dorsal scalation.
This species is found in Papua New Guinea and the Moluccan Islands of Indonesia. It is present across the entire island of New Guinea, although it appears to have an upper elevation limit of 800m (2624.8’). It has been recorded on the Moluccan islands of Aru and Kei, Batanta and Salawati in West Papua Province, Numfoor and Yapen in Papua Province, Indonesian New Guinea and Fergusson Island in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. [2] [3] As this species appears to exhibit a preference for rainforest or former rainforest, it is probably absent from the southern savannah of the Trans-Fly; no records from this region are known.
Found in lowland and mid-montane primary and secondary rainforest, it is primarily seen in the forest interior or in regrowth areas; the species will persist in areas of agriculture or private gardens with available trees. It is an omnivorous and arboreal species, whose diet includes insects and small fruits. [4]
Although lowland rainforest in Papua New Guinea is increasingly being cleared for logging and conversion to agriculture, this species is widespread across the island and can persist in some modified habitats, so it's unlikely to be in any imminent danger.
The species is occasionally traded in small numbers from Papua Province in Indonesian New Guinea. [5] It is not CITES-listed and is not legally protected in Indonesia, but the level of trade that has been observed appears unlikely to have a significant effect on wild populations.
Additional research is needed to clarify the taxonomy of what is more than likely a complex of species.
Agamidae is a family of over 550 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards.
Amphibolurus is a genus of lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Australia.
Calotes is a genus of lizards in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae. The genus contains 29 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as garden lizards. The genus name Calotes has been derived from the Greek word Καλότης (Kalótës), meaning ‘beauty’, referring to the beautiful pattern of this genus.
Hypsilurus is a genus of arboreal lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Melanesia.
Bronchocela jubata, commonly known as the maned forest lizard, is a species of agamid lizard found mainly in Indonesia on the islands of Singkep, Java, Bali, Sulawesi, Karakelang, Salibabu; Nias Island, Singkap Island, Borneo (Kalimantan) also in Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines. Although in the past it was thought the species may be found in India, either on the mainland or in the Nicobars, this is not the case according to herpetologist Das. It is also known by the common name of "bloodsucker", although this is a misnomer.
Calotes calotes, the common green forest lizard, is an agamid lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka.
Monilesaurus ellioti, also known commonly as Elliot's forest lizard, is a species of arboreal, diurnal, lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.
Draco blanfordii, commonly known as Blanford's flying dragon, Blanford’s flying lizard, or Blanford's gliding lizard, is a species of "flying" lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Asia, and is capable of gliding from tree to tree.
The emerald tree monitor or green tree monitor, is a small to medium-sized arboreal monitor lizard. It is known for its unusual coloration, which consists of shades from green to turquoise, topped with dark, transversedorsal banding. This coloration helps camouflage it in its arboreal habitat. Its color also makes the emerald tree monitor highly prized in both the pet trade and zoos alike.
Boyd's forest dragon is a species of arboreal lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to rainforests and their margins in the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland, Australia. It is the larger of the two species of Lophosaurus found in Australia. Another species, the southern angle-headed dragon, L. spinipes, is found in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Lepidodactylus lugubris, known as the mourning gecko or common smooth-scaled gecko, is a species of lizard, a gecko of the family Gekkonidae.
The southern angle-headed dragon or southern forest dragon is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Australia.
The Amphibolurinae are a subfamily of lizards in the family Agamidae. Members of this subfamily are found in Australia and New Guinea, although one species, the Chinese water dragon, is found in Southeast Asia.
The golden-crowned snake is a small species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Australia.
Gonocephalus bellii, commonly known as Bell's anglehead lizard or Bell's forest dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Southeast Asia and Oceania.
Lophosaurus is a genus of arboreal agamid lizards from Australia and Melanesia.
Tropicagama is a genus of large-bodied lizards in the family Agamidae. The genus is monotypic, with only one species listed: Tropicagama temporalis, commonly known as the swamplands lashtail or northern water dragon. This semi-arboreal species inhabits the tropical savannah woodlands of northern Australia, as well as parts of New Guinea and southeastern Indonesia.
Hypsilurus bruijnii, also known commonly as the Bruijn forest dragon, the Bruijni forest dragon, and Bruijn's forest dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Hypsilurus godeffroyi, also known commonly as the angle-headed lizard, the northern forest dragon, and the Palau tree dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Palau and Papua New Guinea.
Hypsilurus papuensis, the Papua forest dragon, is a species of agama. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea and found in both New Guinean mainland and on the D'Entrecasteaux and Trobriand Islands.
