Common butterfly lizard
| Common butterfly lizard | |
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| Species: | L. belliana
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| Binomial name | |
| Leiolepis belliana | |
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The common butterfly lizard (Leiolepis belliana), or simply butterfly lizard, is a widespread species native to Asia.
Etymology
The specific name, belliana, is in honor of English zoologist Thomas Bell.[3]
Geographic range
It can be found in the forests of Indochina, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Description
It is known for the beautiful patterns on its back and sides. It has yellow spots on its back, and small orange and black lines on its sides.
Invasive species
This species has been introduced into the United States, in Florida. It seems to have an established population there.
Habitat
It lives on land that has been prepared for agricultural uses, as well as open sandy land along the coasts.
References
- ^ The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Boulenger GA. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Leiolepis belliana, pp. 156-157).
- ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Leiolepis belliana, p. 22).
Further reading
- Hardwicke T, Gray JE. 1827. "A Synopsis of the Species of Saurian Reptiles, collected in India by Major-General Hardwicke".
Zoological Journal [London] 3: 213-229. (Uromastix belliana, new species, p. 220). - Smith MA. 1935. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Leiolepis belliana, pp. 238–240, Figure 61).
