Draco volans

1. Draco volans

3.  Draco is commonly known as flying lizard or
flying dragon.
 Body is dorso-ventrally compressed and
measuring about 25cm in length of which
12cm is taken by tail.
 The sides of the body, between the fore-
and hind limbs, extend as a pair of large
wing-like membranes, the patagia, which
are supported by 5-6 much elongated
posterior ribs.

4.  These wing-like membranes can be folded
up like fan.
 Eyes are small with complete eyelids.
 On the throat are three pointed hooks, short
one on either side and a long one in the
middle.
 Tail is very long and slender.
 Male has small nuchal crest.

5.  Distensible gular pouch is present in both
sexes but larger in males.
 Gular pouch is orange in males and blue in
female.
 Teeth are acrodont.
 Vertebrae are procoelous.
 Flying dragon use their patagia as
parachutes.

7.  It is endemic to Indonesia, occurring on the
islands of Java and Bali in the west of the
country.
 Feeds mainly on ants, and possibly termites.

8.  The only benefit is the esthetic value of
seeing such a colorful species of lizard take
flight.