Trichy: A study conducted at the foothills of Pachaimalai has revealed the presence of the Psammophilus lizard which changes colour like a chameleon. The researchers said that in agamid lizards the males develop brilliant colours during the breeding season. This colour is for the display and once these males see any possible threat, they change colours very fast.
The Pachaimalai hills is rich in natural vegetation and comprise a large number of endemic, endangered and vulnerable plant species. The thick vegetation acts a habitat for many species of butterflies, birds, and reptiles.
During a field visit carried out by Q AshokaChakkravarthy, wildlife ecologist and assistant professor of environmental science, department of foundation course, St Joseph's College, Trichy, found that the Psammophilus agama lizard did change colours like a chameleon.
"In agamid lizards, the males develop brilliant colours during the breeding season, but once they see any threat, they change colours very fast. Predators do not even recognise them as potential prey due to the camouflage. The rock lizard is a rock-dweller. The most familiar of hill lizards in south India, this agile lizard is a diurnal (active in day time). It is a genus of the agamid lizards sighted in the Pachamalai hills and found in rocky habitats," he said.
The Psammophilus lizard species has two varieties - Psammophilusblanfordanus and Psammophilus dorsalis. Within two hours, more than 80 lizards of the two species were sighted there. It is very difficult to identify the two species because almost these lizards are very similar. The Psammophilus dorsalis is called south Indian rock agama (Indian rock lizards) and the Psammophilusblanfordanus is called Blanford's rock agama, he said.
These two species have a good population density in the Pachamalai hills. Psammophilus dorsalis is endemic to India and is widely distributed in southern India. This species are very similar, morphologically, to Psammophilusblanfordanus and may have been misidentified for this in some studies.
"The breeding season extends between April and June. They have an insectivorous diet. At present we have insufficient information on the ecology and natural history of most Indian agamid lizards. We have to give more importance and further research is needed to create more awareness about this creature's role in the ecosystem," AshokaChakkravarthy said.
Lizards mostly feed on different kinds of insects, including the pest species, and many lizards serve as prey for a variety of birds, he said.
