What is Draco or flying drygon?
Classification:
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Genus: Draco
Habitat: Draco is arboreal, living on trees. It feeds on small insects. Commonly found in India. Malaysia, Europe, Africa Asia, and Australia. It is commonly called flying dragon.Draco is a genus of agamid lizards that are also known as flying lizards, flying dragons or gliding lizards. These lizards are capable of gliding flight via membranes that may be extended to create wings, formed by an enlarged set of ribs. They are arboreal insectivores.
Habits:
(i) It glides to lower branch with the help of patagia. It climbs up the trees using claws and gular
pouches on throat.
(ii) It is nocturnal.
(iii) It is insectivorous and catches insects with the help of long and protrusible tongue. It camouflages to catch the insect.
(iv) Sexes are unisexual and show sexual dimorphism. Male has hemipenes: Fertilization is internal.
(v)Female is oviparous. Development is direct
External characters:
(i) Body is dorsoventrally compressed and is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
(ii) Head is more or less triangular and contains eyes, tympanum behind eyes and nostril. Eyes are small with eyelids.
(iii) Tongue is thick and short. Some animals have thoracic sac and dorsal spine
. (iv) Fore limbs and hind limbs are normal.
(v) On both sides of the body wings or patagium are formed by extension of skin.
(vi) Tail is long, slender and whip-like.
