Calotes maria, also called commonly the Khasi Hills forest lizard and the Assam garden lizard, is a species of lizard in the subfamily Draconinae of the family Agamidae. The species is native to South Asia.

Geographic range

Calotes maria is found in Northeast India (Khasi Hills in Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram) and in Bhutan. It is also reported from north-eastern Bangladesh.

Etymology

The specific name, maria, may be in honor of English conchologist Maria Emma Gray, the wife of John Edward Gray, the describer of this species.

Morphology

The body of Calotes maria is compressed, whereas the tail is almost round, slender, feebly compressed, and covered with keeled scales. The head is large. Both males and females have moderately developed nuchal and dorsal crests. The dorsal colour is green with red streaks and spots. The male develops a brilliant red colour on its head during the breeding season. C. maria may attain a snout-to-vent length of 12 cm (4.7 in), and a tail length of 37 cm (15 in).

Vernacular names

  • English: Khasi Hills forest lizard, Assam garden lizard
  • Bengali: খাসি রক্তচোষা, খাসিয়া গিরিগিটি (Khasia girigiti) (proposed)

Behaviour

Calotes maria is arboreal and diurnal.

Habitat

Calotes maria occurs in forests, generally close to streams, at elevations of 122–1,500 m (400–4,921 ft) above sea level.

Diet

Calotes maria is mainly insectivorous, i.e., feeds on insects. It is diurnal in its foraging behavior, i.e., active during daylight hours.

Reproduction

Calotes maria is oviparous. Like other lizards, it is also polygynandrous and promiscuous and both the male and the female mate with several partners.

Conservation

Despite its relatively small range, Calotes maria has been assessed as of least concern – it is facing no major threats and is present in well-protected areas (Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan, and the adjacent Manas National Park, Assam; Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary, Mizoram). It is a rare species.

Further reading

  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. ... Agamidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I–XXXII. (Calotes maria, pp. 322–323).
  • Boulenger GA (1890). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xviii + 541 pp. (Calotes maria, pp. 136–137).
  • Günther ACLG (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: The Ray Society. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I–XXVI. (Calotes maria, pp. 144–145).
  • Smith MA (1935). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. II.—Sauria. London: Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 440 pp. + Plate I + 2 maps. (Calotes maria, pp. 193–194).