Chinese water dragon

Chinese Water Dragon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Agamidae
Genus:	Physignathus
Species:	P. cocincinus
Binomial name
Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829

Chinese Water Dragons (Physignathus cocincinus) are also known as Asian Water Dragons, Thai Water Dragons, and Green Water Dragons. A related species, P. lesuerurii, is often called the Eastern or Australian Water Dragon.

Description

Chinese water dragons can grow up to 91 cm (3 ft) in length for males and up to 60 cm (2 ft) for females. Coloration ranges from dark to light green. Diagonal stripes of green or turquoise are found on the body, while the tail is banded from the middle to the end with green and dark brown. Their undersides are white, off white, very pale green, or pale yellow. Their throats can be quite colorful (generally yellow, orange, or peach), some with a single color, some with stripes. Adult males have larger, more triangular heads than females, and develop larger crests on the head, neck and tail. The tail, nearly two-thirds of the entire body length, can be used as a weapon, for balance, and to assist swimming. Like many other reptiles the Chinese water dragon possesses a small, iridescent, photosensitive spot between their eyes referred to as the pineal gland (or colloquially as the third eye) that is thought to help thermoregulate their bodies by sensing differences in light to assist with basking and seeking shelter after sunset. Since it recognizes differences in light, the pineal gland can also help the lizard avoid predation from birds and other aerial threats. Females tend to be smaller. Seventy percent of their length is in the tail.

Habitat and behaviours

Native to the lowland and highland forests of India, Northern and southern China, and eastern and southeastern Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma), Chinese water dragons are most commonly found along the banks of freshwater lakes and streams. They are active during the day (diurnal), and spend most of their time in the trees (arboreal). If threatened, the dragon will drop from the trees into the water and either swim to safety or remain submerged for up to 25 minutes. Water dragons live in areas with average humidity levels of 60–80% and temperatures ranging from 80–90 °F.

Breeding

Water dragons breed quite regularly. A female can lay up to eight eggs per clutch, and multiple clutches at a time.You can tell when a male or female would like to mate because of their actions. A male will try to look big by bloating out his neck and he bobs his head up and down. A female will just hunch her back in the air. If they both decide to mate the male will grab the female by the top of her neck and take her to a spot. They will curl up into a ball shape and mate. About one week later the female will start to look quite big and then you will know she is pregnant. The eggs will hatch within 80 days at most.

Diet

Though they will also eat vegetation, the diet of the water dragon consists mainly of insects, supplemented with an occasional small fish, mammal or reptile.

For the captive lizard, crickets and locusts are good staple foods, and they may eat as many as 3–5 during feeding, depending on the size. dfgdfgwill benefit fromdfzhdzfhdfhMeal worms and wax worms are favorites, though wax worms should be fed in moderation, and fed as a treat, as their nutritional value is low. Worms from the garden are a also considered a nice treat, however, if any pesticide has been used in the area, it may be a good idea to avoid them. Head out into the woods near a creek and gather some worms there. Adults will eat young mice known as pinkies and fuzzies.

• St. Louis Zoo
  St. Louis Zoo
• Skull
  Skull
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  Detailed view of legs and scales

References

• Physignathus cocincinus, The Reptiles Database