A newly discovered iguana species is adding to Asia’s diverse reptile population as it has been officially recognized by the scientific community thanks to its description in a journal Zoo Keys has open access.

“We conducted a series of field studies in southern China from 2009 to 2022 and collected a large number of specimens from the species complex Multicolored calottes and the population we consider Multicolored calottes It is new in Southern China and Northern Vietnam. an undescribed species and two subspecies,” says Yong Huang, whose team described the new species.

Unique features of the garden lizard Vanga

Garden lizard Vanga (Calotes Wangi) It is less than 9 cm long and one of its distinguishing features is its orange tongue.

calotes Wangi It is found in subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests and tropical monsoon forests in southern China and northern Vietnam, mostly in mountainous regions, hills and plains at forest edges, arable land, shrublands and even urban green belts. It operates at the forest edge and, when threatened by danger, runs into bushes or climbs tree trunks to hide. Research has revealed that lizards lie on the sloping branches of shrubs at night and sleep close to the branches,” says Yong Huang.

Seasonal activity and diet

It is active from April to October each year, in the tropics from March to November or longer and feeds on a variety of insects, spiders and other arthropods. Currently, researchers believe nothing threatens the new species, but they note that its habitat is fragmented in some areas.

“In addition, their bodies are used medicinally and the lizards are also eaten,” they write in their research paper.

Therefore, they recommend that local governments strengthen the protection of their ecological environment and pay close attention to population dynamics.