Draco volans

Draco volans, also commonly known as the common flying dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.[2] Like other members of genus Draco, this species has the ability to glide using winglike lateral extensions of skin called patagia.[3]

Draco volans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Draco
Species:
D. volans
Binomial name
Draco volans

Description

D. volans grows to a length of up to 22 cm (8.7 in), including the tail. The body is tan in color with dark flecks. The patagium of the male is tan to bright orange with dark banding. The female's patagium has irregular markings rather than banding.[4]

Courtship

The coloration of the patagia and the dewlap play key roles in the courtship of D. volans, with the males stretching out and displaying their patagia and dewlaps to get the attention of the females.[3]

Behaviour

D. volans is diurnal, and is "commonly seen running along branches, displaying, and gliding". The species is exclusively arboreal.[5]

Diet

D. volans feeds mainly on ants, and possibly other insects.[4] A study was conducted in Eastern Mindanao, Philippines, which found that the species exclusively feeds on ants.[5]

Habitat

D. volans is commonly found in early second growth forests, in open secondary forest, and on forest edges.[5]

This species can be found in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia.[6]

Locomotion

The "wings" of D. volans are supported by its ribs, which form the skeleton of the patagia. However, its elongated ribs are superadded to aid forming its "wings", and not to assist respiration.[7]

This species is considered a passive glider, or parachutist.[8] However, previous studies have also shown that it can be considered a gliding animal.[9] This means that it doesn't have to deal with the aerodynamic and metabolic imperatives required for active flight.[10]

Reproduction

The female common flying dragon digs a hole in the soil to serve as a nest, and lays eggs in it.[3]

References
  1. Quah E, Grismer L, McGuire J (2018). "Draco volans ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T99929352A99929358. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T99929352A99929358.en. Downloaded on 04 July 2020.
  2. Species Draco volans at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Crew, Bec (2014)."Flying dragon lizard a true gliding reptile". Australian Geographic. 29 May 2014.
  4. Draco volans. EcologyAsia.
  5. Smith, Brian E. (December 1993). "Notes on a Collection of Squamate Reptiles from Eastern Mindanao, Philippine Islands Part 1: Lacertilia" (PDF). Asiatic Herpetological Research. 5: 85–95.
  6. Van Arsdale, Michael (1999). "Draco volans ". Animal Diversity Web.
  7. Home, Everard (1812). "Observations Intended to Show That the Progressive Motion of Snakes is Partly Performed by means of the Ribs". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 102: 163–168. doi:10.1098/rstl.1812.0011. JSTOR 107313.
  8. Maina, John N. (July 11, 2006). "Development, structure, and function of a novel respiratory organ, the lung-air sac system of birds: to go where no other vertebrate has gone". Cambridge Philosophical Society. 81 (4): 545–579. doi:10.1111/j.1469-185X.2006.tb00218.x. PMID 17038201. S2CID 221532705.
  9. Colbert, Edwin H. (March 10, 1967). "Adaptations for Gliding in the Lizard Draco " (PDF). American Museum Novitates. 2283: 1–20.
  10. Maina, John N. (July 3, 2015). "The design of the avian respiratory system: development, morphology and function". Journal of Ornithology. 156: 41–63. doi:10.1007/s10336-015-1263-9. S2CID 15768990.

Further reading
  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. Geckonidæ, Eublepharidæ, Uroplatidæ, Pygopodidæ, Agamidaæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I–XXXII. (Draco volans, p. 256).
  • Cox MJ, van Dijk PP, Nabhitabhata J, Thirakhupt K (1998). A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. ISBN 978-0883590430. (Draco volans, p. 101).
  • Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, diferentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Draco volans, new species, pp. 199–200). (in Latin).


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