''Leiolepis'', commonly known as butterfly lizards or butterfly agamas ( th, แย้), are group of agamid lizards. They are native to Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand,

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

, Cambodia, Indonesia, Ryukyu Islands (Japan), Vietnam, and Hainan (China). The genus includes both sexual and asexual species. ''Leiolepis'' is the sole genus of subfamily Leiolepidinae.

Description and ecology

''Leiolepis'' are moderately sized lizards with the largest snout-to-vent length of . Sexual species show sexual dimorphism. They are diurnal and live in flat, open areas with loose soil, which allows them to construct long, interconnected burrows used for refuge. They are omnivorous.

Species

Ten species are recognized as being valid. *Sexual species: **''L. belliana'' –

common butterfly lizard The common butterfly lizard (''Leiolepis belliana''), or simply the butterfly lizard, is a widespread species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to Asia. Etymology The specific name, ''belliana'', is in honor of English zoo ...

**''L. guttata'' –

giant butterfly lizard The giant butterfly lizard (''Leiolepis guttata'') is a rarely seen species of lizard found in parts of Southeast Asia. It is the largest member of the genus ''Leiolepis ''Leiolepis'', commonly known as butterfly lizards or butterfly agamas ( ...

, spotted butterfly lizard **''L. ocellata'' –

ocellated butterfly lizard ''Leiolepis ocellata'', the ocellated butterfly lizard, is a species of agamid lizard. It is found in Myanmar and Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast ...

**''L. peguensis'' – Burmese butterfly lizard **''L. reevesii'' – Chinese butterfly lizard, Reeves's butterfly lizard **'' L. rubritaeniata'' – Reeves's butterfly lizard *Asexual species: **''L. boehmei'' – Böhme's butterfly lizard **''L. guentherpetersi'' – Peters's butterfly lizard **''L. ngovantrii'' – Ngo Van Tri's lady butterfly lizard **''L. triploida'' – Thai butterfly lizard, Malayan butterfly lizard '' Nota bene'': A

binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Leiolepis''. Asexual species have arisen through

hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

of sexually-reproducing species.

Consumption

In the northeast region of Thailand it is popular to catch butterfly lizards and eat them. In the South Central Coast region of Vietnam, especially in Ninh Thuan Province, ''Leiolepis'' is considered a delicacy for its nutrional value and can fetch high prices on the market.

Diet

Butterfly Agamas commonly feast on insects (Worms, roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, larvae, beetles, moths) but can also eat fruits (Watermelon, apple, mango, papaya, dates, peaches, apricot) and vegetables (Collard greens, beet greens, mustard greens, broccoli, bell pepper, carrot, green bean). In captivity their meals should be dusted with a vitamin D3 calcium.

Relationship to humans

Captivity

Butterfly lizards can commonly be found in the pet trade. Not much is known about their breeding or raising their babies so most of the ones found in the pet trade are wild caught.

Traditional game

In Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand, there is a traditional game called ''"yæ̂ lng rū"'' (แย้ลงรู; literally: "butterfly lizards hole down").

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q575093 Leiolepis Lizard genera Lizards of Asia Taxa named by Georges Cuvier