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Chin’s Nature Corner
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CHIN'S NATURE CORNER ~ PHOTO GALLERY ~ LIZARDS AND SNAKES

Lizards and Snakes

A tree lizard (family Agamidae). Copyright © Chin Fah Shin. FROM my few encounters with lizards, I have learnt that they are more afraid of humans than we of them. Despite their fearsome look, they will flee at the approach of humans. But like most people, I'm really scared of snakes. The sight of one slithering by sends shivers down my spine. Snakes are mostly nocturnal in habit, and, fortunately, I don't often see them on my day-time jaunts into the jungle. So there are only a few snakes that I have captured on film. I have included two species in this section.

Tree Lizard  Tree Lizard  Tree Lizard
Gonocephalus species
(Family Agamidae)

Agamids are tree lizards which feed on insects, and they can often be seen clinging to tree trunks. Many species look fearsome because of the row of sharp spines along their back. They are in fact quite timid and will scamper up the tree at the sight of a human approaching it.
Tree Lizard

Green Crested Lizard
(Calotes cristatellus)

This lizard is commonly found in secondary growth, at the forest fringe and also in agricultural areas, especially if they are situated near a forest. When frightened, it can change its colour to brown or dark grey. However, it is not a chameleon. Chameleons are not found east of India.

Green Crested Lizard Green Crested Lizard

Oriental Whip Snake

The Oriental Whip Snake
(Ahaetulla prasina)

This is a common snake that is native to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. I found this specimen, which was about one metre (yard) long, "strung over" a cactus beside a rural path, perhaps warming itself in the late afternoon sunshine. The species can grow up to two metres, and feeds mainly on small birds and lizards. (The cactus is a non-native species.)

Oriental Whip Snake

Snake Captures Flying Lizard
I caught sight of this snake trying to eat a lizard because its victim was struggling and repeatedly jerking its body. The victim is a flying lizard (Draco species) which is quite common in that forest. In this picture, the flaps of skin, or patagia, which aid the species in gliding, can be seen partly extended from the lizard's body. I took several pictures and left the snake to continue with its meal. Several days later, I passed by the spot and found the carcass of a lizard, possibly the same specimen. So perhaps the snake (possibly a Painted Bronzeback, Dendrelaphis pictus) did not manage to swallow what it had caught.

Snake captures lizard




 This page revised on 24 May 2005. Copyright © Chin Fah Shin.
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