Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Sumatran flying dragon

Draco sumatranus

Hermann Schlegel, 1844

Draco sumatranus, the common gliding lizard, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. It has elongated ribs and skin flaps on the sides of its body. When opened, these skin flaps allow it to glide between tree trunks.

Behavior

It is primarily a tree dweller, except that the females come down to the forest floor to lay eggs.

Description

The body length is of about 9 cm, with a slightly longer tail. The body is of a dark grey/brown colouration with stripes and patterns to help it camouflage against the tree trunks. The males have a yellow triangular flap of skin under the chin, the gular fold, which is used to communicate with other lizards, mostly for mating. Females have a much smaller and blue flap.

Diet

They feed on small insects. Usually ants and termites.

Habitat

They are relatively common in forests and in urban settings such as parks and gardens.

Geographic range

They are found in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Palawan.

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered a sub-species of Draco volans.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Subphylum
Vertebrata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Lacertilia
Family
Agamidae
Genus
Draco
Species
Draco sumatranus

Common names

  • English:
    • Sumatran flying dragon
    • Common gliding lizard

Synonyms

  • Draco sumatranus, Indraneil Das & Norsham S. Yaakob (2007)
  • Draco sumatranus, Larry Lee Grismer et al. (2002)
  • Draco sumatranus, Jimmy Adair McGuire & Kiew Bong Heang (2001)
  • Draco volans sumatranus, Tanya Chan-Ard et al. (1999)
  • Draco volans sumatranus, Kees Musters (1983)
  • Draco viridis var. sumatrana, Hermann Schlegel (1844)

Photos

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Draco sumatranus

Range Map

Distribution map of Sumatran flying dragon, Draco sumatranus in Thailand
  • Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kathu District, Phuket
  • Ko Lanta National Park
  • Ko Yao District, Phang Nga
  • Mueang Krabi District, Krabi
Range map of Draco sumatranus in Thailand