Calotes versicolor Daudin, 1802

Cook-Price, Dawn R., Makchai, Sunchai, Naithani, Archana, Pawangkhanant, Parinya & Suwanwaree, Pongthep, 2025, Lizard survey of Ko Pha-gnan in the Surat Thani Province, Thailand, Biodiversity Data Journal 13, pp. e 154712-e 154712 : e154712-

Calotes versicolor Daudin, 1802

Oriental garden lizard or changeable lizard.

Notes

This diurnal species (Fig. 4 ) is omnivorous, eating a variety of insects, spiders, small vertebrates, fruits and flowers. Identifying characteristics include the notable absence of both granular scales in front of the fore-limb (front arm folds) and the absence of a post-orbital spine ( Meesook et al. 2016). This species is sexually dimorphic (differences between male and female) with breeding males displaying vibrant colours, while female and non-breeding males being brown in colouration ( Saijuntha et al. 2020, Prakobkarn et al. 2024). This species thrives in both forest and human habitat.

Distribution. This species is well adapted to human settlement and has been detected in all three habitats. One hundred and forty individuals were detected throughout the National Park forest, human disturbed forest and human settlement. This species was most often observed on low vegetation between 30 cm to 150 cm above the ground where the vegetation and transect (trail, dirt track or paved road) meet (edge habitat). This species was distributed throughout the Island.

Figures

Figure 4. Agamidae lizards. A Calotes versicolor; B Calotes emma with evident post-ocular spine; C Calotes emma (photo credit: James Covert); D Draco maculatus (photo credit: Ton Smits); E Leiolepis belliana.