Hydrosaurus amboinensis

Ambon Sail lizard ( Hydrosaurus amboinensis )

The Ambon Sail lizard ( Hydrosaurus amboinensis ) lives on Sulawesi, the Moluccas and New Guinea. She considers herself always in the immediate vicinity of water.

Features

The males of the Ambon - sailing lizard reach a total length of 90 to 110 cm, of which 40 cm on the head and trunk. Females reach only a total length of 75 to 90 cm, which accounted here around 30 cm on the head and trunk. The body surface is colored brown with light yellowish green shimmer or almost black. The back is covered with a net-like pattern. In the male, both the drawing and the coloring is more intense than in the female.

The large skin sail on the long tail is eponymous for these lizards. This skin sail reaches a height of up to three centimeters and extends over approximately two-thirds of the tail. The skin sail is less pronounced in the female. The back and the neck are characterized by a jagged ridge that fails stronger in the male. Ambon Sail lizards are good climbers and very good swimmers. In case of danger they flee usually into the water.

Food

Ambon Sail lizards are omnivores. Captive animals eat fruits, salads, insects, mice, small fish, dead day-old chicks, eggs and minced meat.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity is reached at two years. The mating season begins in the spring. As is typical of Agamas, the male attention of a female trying to get by vigorous nod. Is a female ready to mate, so he mounts it and thereby biting her neck. Gestation lasts 9-11 weeks. The nest, which comprises about 10 to 16 eggs is laid in moist sand. The eggs have a size 24-26 x 41-44 mm. As a function of incubation they hatch after about 75 to 90 days. They have a slip length of 16 to 22 cm.