The Large-scaled Forest Lizard (Calotes grandisquamis) is an agamid lizard endemic to the forests of central and southern Western Ghats of India.
Western Ghats has lost over two-thirds of its original forest cover in the last several decades and only 3,200 square kilometres, or 15% of the intact area, is protected. This loss of habitat is mainly due to conversion of forests for various plantations as well as development. Even though few species struggle to adapt to newly altered environments, exceptions like this Calotes grandisquamis come as a pleasant surprise. This is one of the most beautiful lizards of the Western Ghats and can be found from low elevations of 100m to as high as 1600m. This individual was photographed in an organic and wildlife-friendly coffee estate ~1400m in the Anamalais not far from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR).
This species has lot of colour variation ranging from bright green, dull brown, red, sky blue to lemon yellow.
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The Large-scaled Forest Lizard is an agamid lizard endemic to the forests of the central and southern Western Ghats of India. This species has lot of colour variation ranging from bright green, dull brown, red, sky blue to lemon yellow.