CGTN Nature's film crew recently captured footage of the oriental garden lizard in the Jianfengling tropical rainforest in China's southern island province of Hainan.
Both males and females have a crest from the head to nearly the tail, hence their other common names "Crested tree lizard" and "Cockscomb snake" by locals.
Oriental garden lizard. /VCG Photo
They inhabit mainly tropical and subtropical zones, with a wide elevation range between 80 and 2,000 meters. And as the name suggests, they can be found in urban gardens.
The lizard measures over 10 centimeters in length from snout to vent. The male gets a bright red throat in the breeding season.
The oriental garden lizard can move each of their eyes in different directions like chameleons, although they don't change colors that fast.
More about the Jianfengling tropical rainforest:
CGTN Nature: Jianfengling Series | Episode 8: Rainforest Gullies
CGTN Nature: Jianfengling Series | Episode 1: A Realm of Biodiversity
(Cover image via VCG)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com)