Sail-fin lizard  (Hydrosaurus pustulatus)

Range

The sail-fin lizard is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found throughout the islands except Palawan (3) (7). However, the taxonomic status and relationships within and between different Hydrosaurus species in the Philippines remain highly debated and require clarification (3).

View a distribution map for this species at UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Habitat

Often called the ‘sailfin water lizard’ or ‘sailfin water dragon’, this semi-aquatic species is at home equally both in water and in trees (7). Its days are spent in vegetation overhanging unpolluted mountain streams of the Philippine islands’ tropical rainforest, dropping into the water and swimming to the bottom at the first sign of danger, staying submerged for 15 minutes or more until they believe the coast is clear (4) (5) (7).

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