Sailfin Lizard

Genus Hydrosaurus

Reptile

Transcript:

Today on Animal Fact Files we’re discussing sailfin lizards. These lizards are dragons, literally. They're classified in the agama family and the members of this family are also commonly known as dragons! Sailfins might be the most dragon-like of the agamas with their wing-like back sails, though I'm sure we could come up with a few contenders for that title. Sailfin lizards are actually the largest living members of the agama family, reaching up to 4 feet (122 cm) including their tail!

There are a handful of sailfin species, though the exact specifics of this is still under study. They're classified in the genus Hydrosaurus which means "water lizard". For this reason, sailfins are sometimes referred to as sailfin dragons or water dragons, though they're still separated from other members of the agama family commonly known as water dragons, such as the Chinese water dragon.

That being said, water dragon is an apt name for a sailfin lizard because they live near water. Their preferred habitats include coastal mangrove forests and rivers running through rainforests. Sailfin lizards are arboreal, they climb trees! They're also semi-aquatic. These reptiles spend their time in branches overhanging the water so they can make a quick escape if threatened. They're excellent swimmers with a flattened tail that helps propel them through the water, but this is just one method for getting around. Sailfin lizards can also walk on water much  like the basilisk lizard we've discussed in a previous episode. Enlarged fringes on outside edges of their toes give them more surface area to run across the water's surface!

The easiest identifier of a sailfin lizard is the namesake sail. This is more distinct in adult males. Although females also sport smaller sails, they're smaller than the males overall. The male's sail becomes apparent around six months of age when projections form along the lizard spine that will grow out into that fabulous fin. Males have a nasal bulb, though females can sport this, too! Like a bearded dragon, male sailfin lizards have larger pores on their inner thighs when compared to females. 

These reptiles are mostly solitary but come together to mate. The female lays multiple egg clutches per year with about twelve eggs per clutch. While they're young, sailfins take more animal material such as insects and baby mice, however, as they get older they eat fruits, leaves, seeds, and more plant-based meals.

Sailfin lizards are threatened by habitat loss and pollution. They're also targeted for the pet trade, especially their eggs and juveniles. They live in a patchy distribution across southeast Asia including Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. If they can avoid these threats, sailfin lizards can live to at least ten years old!

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