Flying lizard, or flying dragon: photo of a reptile. Flying dragons Flying dragons tell children briefly

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Flying dragons(lat. Draco) - a genus of the subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas (Agaminae) of the agamidae family (Agamidae); unites about thirty Asian species arboreal insectivorous lizards.

This living dragon is not from a fairy tale or a paleontology textbook. Thin, small (on average 30 cm), long-legged brown-gray lizards sit unnoticed on the treetops, and when they fold their wings, they almost merge with the surrounding landscape. But, their distinctive feature– this is the presence of clearly defined “wings”. The wings are corrugated folds of skin, thanks to which the lizard is able to glide at a distance of up to 60 meters.

The “aviation system” of these lizards is designed as follows: they have six enlarged lateral ribs—however, biologists consider them false ribs—that are capable of extending and spreading their skin “sail” (or “wing”) for subsequent gliding. When the lizard spreads these ribs, the leathery fold located between them stretches, turning into wide wings. Dragons cannot flap their “wings” like birds, and they have no need for it - they practically do not fall to the ground.

If the prey (butterfly, beetle or other flying insect) flies nearby, then the dragon, instantly spreading its “wings”, makes a big jump and grabs the victim in flight, after which it lands on a lower branch. Then he crawls up the tree trunk again, and does it quite briskly. Each adult dragon has its own “hunting ground” - a section of forest consisting of several trees located in the vicinity.

Agree, flying is a very useful skill for a lizard that feeds on insects and larvae. This greatly facilitates her search for food and allows her to quickly and efficiently hunt for prey. Moreover, the dragonet is capable of gliding both vertically and horizontally, as well as quickly changing the direction of movement, using a long tail, which helps control the flight, acting as a rudder.

Flying dragons are absolutely harmless and incredibly beautifully colored. The head of this lizard is brown or green in color with a metallic sheen. The skin membrane of the lizard is very brightly colored, the upper side alternates in different colors - green, yellow, with a purple tint, with spots, specks and even stripes. It is interesting that the reverse side of the dragon’s “wings” is no less brightly colored - spotted lemon or blue, and the tail, legs and abdomen are also variegated, which, of course, also adorns this small exotic lizard.

Males can be recognized by their bright orange throat, while females have a blue or blue throat. The skin fold is the main advantage of the male dragon, which he regularly demonstrates by spreading it widely and protruding it forward. Anatomically, this sign is due to the presence of processes of the lizard’s hyoid bone, thanks to which the leathery sac on the reptile’s throat can swell. Among other things, it is believed that the skin fold helps the male during the migration process by stabilizing his body.

Flying dragons live in tropical forests South-East Asia: on o. Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and South India. They live in the crowns of trees, where they spend most of their lives. They go down to the ground only as a last resort - if the flight does not go well.

The flying dragon is not only a folklore character from various tales and fantasy novels, but also a very real Living being. True, miniature. Dragons got their name due to their ability to fly from tree to tree with the help of peculiar “wings”.

Flying dragons live in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia: on the island. Borneo, Sumatra, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and South India. They live in the crowns of trees, where they spend most of their lives. They descend to the ground only in two cases - to lay eggs and if the flight is unsuccessful.

In total, about 30 species of flying dragons are known. The most famous and widespread is Draco volans. These lizards grow no more than 40 centimeters. They have a thin, flattened body and a long tail. On the sides there are wide leathery folds stretched between six “false” ribs. When they open, peculiar “wings” are formed, with the help of which dragons can glide in the air at a distance of up to 60 meters.

In males, there is a special fold of skin on the throat that moves forward. It serves as a body stabilizer during flight.

Flying dragons are difficult to notice because their uniform color (green or gray-brown) allows them to blend in with the dense foliage or bark of a tree. But the wings, on the contrary, have a bright and variegated color - red, yellow, bright green, etc.

They can fly both horizontally and vertically and at the same time quickly change the direction of their flight. Each adult has its own territory, consisting of several trees located nearby.

Flight allows these lizards to find new food places. Their main diet includes ants and the larvae of other insects.

There are a huge number of animals in the world. From the simplest, found at every step, to the extremely rare and exotic. One of the exotic animals is the dragon lizard, which will be discussed in this article.

Dragon lizard or flying dragon - belongs to the subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas(Agaminae) and is one of its most prominent representatives.

Definition

The name is due to the lateral folds of skin that allow it to fly over a distance of about 20 meters. This ability was acquired by lizards due to the fact that it is very difficult to survive while on the surface of the earth and running along the forest floor, in which predators can hide. Adapting to life on tall trees, they solved this problem. This lizard is also called: dragon, flying dragon, flying lizard and flying dragons.

Description

The flying lizard is an inconspicuous animal that blends very well with the tree on which it lives. Stealth is primarily due to its small size. The lizard's length varies from 20 to 40 cm. Most of the body length is a thin tail, which, among other things, performs the function of turning during flight. The body is narrow and can reach 5 cm in thickness.

A distinctive feature of this lizard from others is the small corrugated folds on both sides of the body. They are attached to false ribs and spread during flight, forming wings. Males have a special fold located on the throat that helps stabilize their position during flight. In addition to helping during flight, the gular fold serves to attract females and scare away opponents.

The second element What keeps them invisible on trees is their brown-gray color with a metallic sheen, which allows them to blend not only with the trees, but also with the surrounding landscape. The side membranes on both sides are painted in bright colors that alternate one after another. The colors on the upper side shimmer in the color scheme - red, yellow, with various inclusions - spots, stripes and specks. On the bottom side you can see this picture: yellowish and bluish color here, connected with dots of different colors. Speaking about color, one cannot fail to mention the bright colors of the animal’s tail, legs and abdomen.

Habitat

Where can you find these wonderful creatures? The main habitat of flying lizards can be called:

• India;
• islands of the Malay archipelago;
• Borneo island;
• Malaysia;
• most of Southeast Asia.

They live in tropical forests, where there are many tall trees on the crowns of which you can comfortably sit. They practically don’t go down to the ground, only in case of egg laying or accidental fall.

Behavioral features

The behavior of flying dragons is determined by the presence of “wings” and the ability to glide over a distance of over 20 meters. It is the presence of folds that causes these reptiles to live at altitude. Their favorite height is upper tier forests. Even going down a little lower is already a bad option.

Flying dragons spend most of their time motionless. This is because their color helps them remain invisible while sitting on a tree without moving. They feed on ants, insect larvae and adult insects that they encounter in their habitat.

The moment flying dragons see their prey, they jump in its direction and straighten their folds. Their goal is to catch an insect in flight and land on a nearby tree. They succeed in this thanks to good maneuverability in the air, which, in turn, is achieved due to the presence of a tail and a fold under the throat.

One of characteristic features Flying lizards can be called having their own territory. Each flying lizard occupies about three trees, which it uses for hunting. If an animal the size of a flying dragon lands on one of the trees, it will first begin trying to drive away the enemy appearance, and then attacks the invader.

The female flying dragon, in turn, also has a special manner of behavior. Despite the fact that they spend most of their time in the trees, they have to descend and lay eggs in the ground.

Using their pointed nose, they dig small holes in which they lay up to four eggs. After this, they cover the holes with mud and guard them for 24 hours. After this period they return to the top.

The most common types

There are about thirty species of flying dragons. The main ones:

• Draco affinis
• Draco biaro
• Draco bimaculatus
• Draco blanfordii – Blanford's flying dragon
• Draco caerulhians
• Draco cornutus - horned flying dragon

Considering that dragon lizards spend most of their time camouflaging themselves, one should not be surprised that they have been little studied. Scientists have no information about, how long do dragons live and how many babies hatch from each egg. It is known that small flying dragons can fly immediately after hatching.

Surely in one of the articles on our website we have already surprised you with the fact that they exist. But this is far from the only species of reptile that is capable of traveling distances by air. So, we will tell you about the species of lizard Draco volans, which in Latin means “flying dragon”.

Flying dragons belong to the family Agamaidae, a subfamily of Afro-Arabian agamas. The habitats of these strange reptiles are located in remote corners of Southeast Asia. Flying dragons live in trees tropical forests the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, the Philippines, as well as in the southeastern part of India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In nature, there are about 30 species capable of flight. But the Draco volans species is the most common, although not fully studied due to the hidden lifestyle of these reptiles.

Flying dragons are not at all the same size as their cartoon characters. The size of this one reaches 20-40 centimeters in length. Moreover, the color of flying dragons is not very noticeable - from solid green to gray-brown. This allows them to blend into their surrounding habitat. But a distinctive feature of flying dragons is the wide folds of skin on the sides of the flattened body, which, when the “false ribs” between which they are stretched open, form bright “wings”, allowing these lizards to soar in the air, freely moving up and down and changing their trajectory movement at a distance of up to 60 meters.

The structure of the “wings” of flying dragons is very unique. The lateral ribs of this lizard are significantly increased in size compared to the rest of the skeleton structure and are able to straighten the skin folds stretched between them. The resulting “wings” have a bright and variegated color - they are green, yellow, purple, with a tint, transition, with spots, specks and stripes.

An interesting fact is that males have hallmark- skin fold bright orange. Moreover, for the male sex this distinctive feature is considered a virtue, which they willingly demonstrate by sticking it forward. From a biologist's point of view, this anatomical feature is a process of the hyoid bone of males, which helps them during migration, stabilizing the body.

In general, gliding in the air for flying dragons is in itself a very useful skill that nature has endowed them with. He helps them escape from predators.

The diet of these reptiles includes insects, mainly ants, as well as insect larvae. Flying dragons live and hunt strictly in a certain territory, which, as a rule, consists of several neighboring trees. These descend from the trees only in case of an unsuccessful flight, or to lay eggs.

These flying dragons practically do not consume water; they get enough of it from the food they consume. It is also worth noting that flying dragons have a well-developed organ of hearing, which allows them to hear the approach of prey long before it appears near the reptile.

Unfortunately, the reproduction process and life expectancy of flying dragons have not yet been fully studied. The only thing that biologists managed to find out is that females lay eggs in crevices in the bark of trees. Small flying dragons appear within a few weeks and can fly from the moment they hatch.

Millions of years ago. Among them there are unusual specimens that amaze with their unique appearance and abilities.

the site will introduce you to some of the representatives of ancient reptiles.

flying dragon

This is a miniature representative fairy tale character. It differs from other species and flying lizards by the skin folds on the sides of the body. Thanks to them, they can fly from one tree to another in search of food, over a distance of more than 20 meters. They live in Southeast Asia.

The dragon family of flying lizards includes about 30 species. They are relatively small in size - up to 21 cm. Moreover, the long and thin tail makes up half of the entire length. The body is colored to match the color of foliage and bark.

IN normal condition the skin folds on the sides are tightly pressed to the body. In flight, they unfold, turning into bright wings of yellow, red or Green colour. And the dragon becomes like a butterfly.

It maneuvers well in flight, changing direction and altitude, while the tail acts as a rudder. It doesn't flap its wings, but they allow it to float smoothly in the air.

flying dragon

Lifestyle of flying reptiles

They lead a solitary lifestyle, preferring the dense crown of trees. They also feed on larvae. And they themselves are prey for and.

The throat pouch of the male is bright yellow. In the female it is blue or of blue color. Flying dragons do not hibernate. They breed throughout the year.

Having chosen a female, the male demonstrates all his advantages to her - the color of his wings, his throat pouch. And he tries to convince her with a kind of “speech”.

If courtship is accepted, then after some time the female descends to the ground and lays 2-5 eggs in a small depression. Covers them with a small layer of soil and leaves its offspring to survive.

The cubs appear after two months with all the skills for independent existence. The lifespan of flying dragons is up to 5 years.

frilled lizard

Lives in New Guinea. It got its name from the fold of skin around the head that looks like a collar. It regulates body heat exchange and serves to intimidate enemies. In case of danger, it opens and rises around the head by 30 cm.

The frilled lizard has unusual ability run on hind legs. In this case, the torso is held vertically. Strong, tenacious paws with sharp claws help them run quickly and climb trees.

Owner of an attractive outfit

Males reach a size of up to one meter. The long tail makes up 2/3 of the total length. Females are much smaller.

During mating season the male attracts his chosen one, showing her his collar in all its glory. After mating, she lays 8-12 eggs in the sand and after about ten weeks independent offspring appear.

They lead a solitary lifestyle. They mostly live in trees, but if they don’t find food there, then they go down to the ground for prey. Omnivorous - they feed on plants, rodents, and bird eggs.

To scare the enemy, frilled lizard rises on its hind legs, simultaneously opening its mouth and orange collar wide (does not fly). Hisses, hits long tail on the ground and runs towards the enemy. Instantly turning into an incomprehensible creature. This transformation causes snakes and dogs to flee.

Moloch - spotted devil

For its terrifying appearance, this lizard was named after the pagan god of evil, to whom sacrifices were made.

Her entire body (up to 22 cm) is covered with sharp horny spines. Moreover, they are all different sizes. The spotted devil has the ability to change body color depending on temperature environment and lighting. It also lives in the semi-deserts of Australia.

Leads a daily lifestyle. Moves slowly on powerful, outstretched legs. It lives in burrows dug in the sand and can bury itself completely in it.

What does it eat?

Despite its terrifying appearance, the moloch is actually a harmless creature - it feeds exclusively on ants. Catches them with a long sticky tongue. It eats several thousand of these insects per day.

The spotted color helps to camouflage well in the sand. In case of danger, the moloch bows its head in front of the enemy, putting forward a horny growth on its head. And significantly increases the size of the body, inflating it.

Her body is covered with sharp horny spines

Moloch can change its color within a few minutes, masquerading as its environment.

How does it reproduce

Eggs are laid between September and December. The offspring appears after 3-4 months, measuring less than one centimeter. They grow slowly and only at about five years old do the cubs grow to adult size. They live long enough for these reptiles, about twenty years.

Leaf gecko

Where do they live?

It lives on the tropical islands of Madagascar. Their unusual leaf-like appearance and color matching the color of tree bark make them invisible. The tail, with uneven edges and veins in the middle, is very similar to a dried leaf. This ability of animals is called mimicry (imitation, camouflage).

Second title ( satanic gecko) received thanks to its huge red eyes, which can see perfectly at night.

The size of these reptiles is 20-30cm. They live in trees and are active night look life, and during the day they hide among the foliage. They feed on insects.

The female lays two eggs several times a year. Incubation period lasts 2-3 months, depending on environmental conditions.

IN wildlife Leaf geckos live for about eight years. In a well-equipped terrarium up to 20 years.

Small belt-tailed lizards

The name was given for the ring-shaped scales with sharp spikes that encircle the entire body, leaving a small bare area on the stomach. They live in Africa and Madagascar.

When in danger, belt-tailed lizards curl up into a ring, covering their bare abdomen, and take the tail into their mouth. At the same time, sharp spikes rise on the back. With this ability they resemble hedgehogs.

During the day they lead an active lifestyle. Crevices among rocks and stones serve as shelter for them. During the dry period they can hibernate. They live in small groups in which the male is the leader.

Video about the belt-tailed lizard

What do lizards eat?

They feed not only on plants, but also on small rodents and even their own relatives. They are long-lived, living up to 25 years in the wild.

Offspring are viviparous once a year. Cubs (one to two) are born up to 6 cm in size and capable of independent life.

All lizards, whether flying or not, tolerate life well in captivity in specially equipped terrariums. You need the appropriate temperature, diet and ventilation for each species.

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