 |
| The Spotted Gliding Lizard, Draco maculata (Gray, 1845). Photographed at Thale Noi, southern Thailand. This location is at the northern end of Lake Songhkla. D. maculata is a small species, with adults reaching a body length of about 82 mm and a tail that is 125 mm long. It feeds primarily on ants as they move past the waiting lizard sitting on a tree trunk. Draco maculata is widespread in Southeast Asia and may actually be several different species. It has five ribs supporting the patagium. It ranges from sea level to at least 1400 m above sea level. Like most Draco, the species are territorial, and the territory is defended by the male by displaying its dewlap, a flap of skin under its chin. |
| |
| |
 |
| A gliding lizard (Draco sp.). Cleared and stained museum specimen showing elongated ribs that extend the flaps of skin (the patagium) along the body for increasing the lizards surface area for gliding. Note that this species has five pairs of elongated ribs. |
| |
| The gliding lizards of the genus Draco inhabit southeast Asia, although one species occurs in India. They have evolved elongated ribs that support a membrane of skin that forms a wing-like structure, it is called a pterygium or patigium. True wings in birds, bats and pterodactyls evolved from limbs, not ribs. There are about 40 species in the genus. They are agile in trees, but clumsy on the ground. Food includes ants and termites. Males tend to be territorial and brightly colored. Their ecological counterparts in the Western Hemisphere are often considered to be the anoles. |
