Gonocephalus sophiae

Kingdom:    Animalia
Phylum:    Chordata
Class:    Reptilia
Order:     Squamata
Family:     Agamidae
Genus:    Gonocephalus
Common Name:    Negros forest dragon
Ecological Status:    Philippine Endemic

About the Species:

Gonocephalus sophiae (Gray, 1845)

            Gonocephalus sophiae or the Negros Forest Dragon is a species of lizards characterized by having large heads and short snouts, short crests, intricate scalation, a pale green gular pouch and a yellow-and-black-striped tails. This species uses camouflage as a defense mechanism wherein they can be brownish-grey dorsum or they can be distinctly green. It is endemic to the Philippines particularly in the islands of Negros, Mindanao and Panay. In MHRWS, this species is usually observed in the forest ground.

Reference:

Diesmos, A., Demegillo, A., Liza Duya, Gonzalez, J.C., Gaulke, M. & Delima, E. 2009.Gonocephalus sophiae.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009: e.T169895A6687343. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T169895A6687343.en. Downloaded on 24 July 2018.