The common butterfly lizard (''Leiolepis belliana''), or simply the butterfly lizard, is a widespread

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of lizard in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Agamidae Agamidae is a family (biology), family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Overview phylogenetics, Phylogenetic ...

. The species is native to

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

Etymology

The

specific name Specific name may refer to: * in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules: * Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...

, ''belliana'', is in honor of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

zoologist Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the Animal, animal kingdom, including the anatomy, structure, embryology, evolution, Biological clas ...

Thomas Bell. Beolens B, Watkins M,

Grayson M Grayson may refer to: Places Canada * Grayson, Saskatchewan * Rural Municipality of Grayson No. 184, Saskatchewan United States * Grayson, California * Grayson, Georgia ** Grayson High School * Grayson, Kentucky * Grayson, Louisiana * Gray ...

(2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Leiolepis belliana'', p. 22).

Geographic range

''L. belliana'' can be found in the forests of

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

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 ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

, and

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

Description

''L. belliana'' is known for the beautiful patterns on its back and sides. It has yellow spots on its back, and small orange and black lines on its sides.

Habitat

''L. belliana'' lives on land that has been prepared for agricultural uses, as well as open sandy land along the coasts.

Ecology

Reproduction

''L. belliana'' is monogamous, with a single adult pair inhabiting the same burrow, where 3-8 eggs are laid during hot, dry weather. This species also exhibits parental care of neonates, with neonates sharing their parents' burrow for a few months before digging their own burrow nearby.

Diet

The butterfly lizard feeds on vegetation, crabs, grasshoppers, beetle larvae, butterflies, and other insects.

Habitat

''L. belliana'' digs and lives in a burrow ca. deep and long, to which it returns before dark, and uses its flattened body to seal the entrance to protect it from nocturnal predators. These burrows are also used during reproduction and as refuge from weather and fires.

Invasive species in Florida

The Miami population of ''L. belliana'' originated from a tropical fish dealer, and the population was already well established in 1992. ''L. belliana'' is readily available in the pet trade, and reptile collectors are probably not exploiting the Miami population because this species is located on private properties in a residential area, difficult to catch, and not worth much as individuals typically wholesale for $3.50–5.50 each. The ecological impacts of ''L. belliana'' on native species in Florida are unknown.

References

Gallery

Image:Leiolepis belliana, common butterfly lizard - Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park - 2.jpg Image:Leiolepis belliana Hardwicke.jpg

External links

Common butterfly lizard
Leiolepis Lizards of Asia Reptiles described in 1827 Taxa named by Thomas Hardwicke Taxa named by John Edward Gray {{Agamidae-stub

Etymology

Geographic range

Description

Habitat

Ecology

Reproduction

Diet

Habitat

Invasive species in Florida

References

Further reading

Gallery

External links