Sitana ponticeriana 

The Pondichéry fan-throated lizard (Sitana ponticeriana) is a species of agamid lizard found in eastern peninsular India.

DESCRIPTION:

• Upper head- scales small, sharply keeled; canthus rostralis and supraciliary edge sharp, with much enlarged scales.

• Dorsal scales larger than ventrals, with sharp keels forming straight longitudinal lines;

• lateral scales smallest, uniform or intermixed with scattered enlarged ones. The fore limb does not extend on to the vent, if laid backwards; the hind limb reaches to the orbit, if laid forwards;

• Tail round, slender, once and a half to twice as long as the head and body, covered with equal keeled scales.

SIZE:

• This species attains a maximum length of 8 inches, of which the tail takes 5 inches. From snout to vent 3-5 inches.

REPRODUCTION:

• The reproduction of Sitana ponticeriana, is ovoviviparous, which means that the eggs hatch inside the female's body and the young are born live.

• The breeding season for Sitana ponticeriana is during the monsoon season, which is from June to September in India. The males will court the females by displaying their bright colors and fanning out their gular pouches. Once the female is receptive, the male will mate with her.

• The female will lay a clutch of 6-23 eggs, which will hatch after about 39 days. The young lizards will then emerge from their mother's body and fend for themselves.

HABITAT:

• The species is found mostly on the ground in open ground patches in thin forests. When disturbed this lizard sometimes runs with a bipedal gait.