Since I had only seen pictures of the lizard prior to my study, it was quite interesting to observe the lizard’s external characteristics. A fan throated lizard is a small lizard with four against five toes in all other agamids. The fan like throat appendage in the male is a distinguishing character. The males were longer than the females by about a centimetre. The throat fan of the male is coloured in the breeding season, showing a blue tinge of line anteriorly and varying shades of golden brown to green throughout the fan; colours fading posteriorly. The males also show a dark spot on the dorsal side which is clearly seen during the breeding season. Off mating season most animals, especially males show an orangish tinge on their upper hindlimb portions. This was seen in more than one animal and is clearly seen on a bright sunny day. In young ones though the fan is not developed, a distinct white line is seen if it’s a male where the fan will be present as it grows. The females are distinguished by the absence of fan and lighter body colour. Generally these lizards are brown above, with a series of darker, black vertebral triangles or diamond shapes, bordered with brown and set inside two light brown vertical lines on the dorsal side. Both males and females have a dark black spot on the upper side on the neck, which is more prominent in the males. The body colour helps the animal to camouflage well with the ground - mud colour. On the lower side the colour varies from being light brown – wheatish to white in some animals.

They were generally sighted after 8:00am till noon, thereafter disappearing possibly due to extreme heat and during evenings usually not before 4.30 pm till dusk. Sightings are usually direct, due to their running across the path or due to the movement spotted in plants that are ruffled. Territorial males have an area of about 6 to 7 feet per individual; the area is either an arbitrary circle or a square and they display their fans also when threatening any intruder. Juvenile males are found to be wanderers – having no apparent territory. Females are skulky, and often noticed camouflaged amongst short bushes, or hiding in holes, unlike males who are seen running around the ground and rarely in holes.

These lizards are very swift, running at top speed and disappearing as soon as possible into the nearby bushes. They respond to sounds or movement at a distance of 5-6 feet by freezing (becoming still) and showing no movement, trying to camouflage. Any movement in close makes them run to top speed; males run around their own territory unless driven into other males’ territory and females run as far as possible, in no apparent direction to get away. At times they adopt a bipedal gait while running. These lizards heavily relied on large black ants for their food.

During the breeding season there is by and large and one to one association of the males and females. The males display their fans when trying to lure a female. After sighting the female in its territory the male starts displaying, at times moving towards her direction. He stands up heightening on his forelimbs to clearly display his fan and extends the fan for sometime at a particular pace then moves ahead a little closer to the female and then repeats his actions. The male continues his display gradually moving closer to the female. If not interested the female runs away from the male and the male stops displaying but does not leave the territory, rather waits for another prospective mate to arrive and then starts displaying again. Female too usually restrict themselves to their mates territory but will enter another if need arises without any apprehension.

A mating pair spotted in an area, which was occupied by them consistently afterwards. Here the female was perched on a “Y” fork of the Zizyphus sp. close to the ground as if ready for copulation and the male was positioned above her at a distance of 1 cm approx. For courtship display by the males, Wild basil, Milkweed plant and Babul plants were preferred, whereas for resting, hiding or camouflaging, animals preferred Zizyphus sp. and Acacia nilotica.


THE MORE COMMON THEY ARE – THE LESSER CONCERN WE HAVE?

The activity pattern in reptiles is governed by several factors, such as availability of prey, thermal microclimate, etc. And these patterns are very crucial for demographic studies. For the fan throated lizard Sitana ponticeriana, air temperature is a key factor influencing its activity pattern. Hence, studies on this lizard are most effective when conducted during the early morning hours when they emerge out of their abodes and are highly active.

Increasing urbanization and industrialization is jeopardizing the harmonious existence of these lizards. Alterations to their preferred habitats may affect their abundance, normal behaviour as well as their spectacular courtship behaviour.

In recent years, increasing number of animals have been given a ‘protection status.’ However, findings show that this particular lizard has been subject to many anatomical and physiological studies. The sources or suppliers of these animals are evidently questionable. For now, the increasing demand for land continues to be the primary threat for the loss of habitat and is a cause for concern for these and many other animals.