Half The Bloodsucker That It Was

Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West
North, Singapore
August 2012
Cloudy

Calotes Versicolor (Changeable Lizard / Bloodsucker Lizard / Crested Tree Lizard / Garden Fence Lizard / Oriental Garden Lizard) are usually a dull brown, grey or olive with speckles or bands, but can can be seen in other colours such as bright green. These colour changes may reflect their moods.

Merlion Wayfarer spotted this one along the staircase near Mayflower Primary School. It was basking in the sun in mid-morning. A male, it was in the midst of a colour change in preparation for the breeding season. A fascinating example. It can be seen that colour change happens not sporadically, but from head onwards to the tail. Its throat is also turning black...

During the breeding season, the male's head and shoulders turns bright orange to crimson and his throat black. Males also turn red-headed after a successful battle with rivals. Thus their other gruesome name of "Bloodsucker Lizard". But they don't actually suck anybody's blood! Both males and females have a crest from the head to nearly the tail, hence their other common name "Crested Tree Lizard".

 

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