SitanaPonticeriana: The Fan Throated Lizards
The fan throated lizards are tiny and vivid reptiles found in the coastal areas of Southern Asia. Fourteen species of fan throated lizards have been found in the Indian subcontinent. The lizard gets its name from the vivid dewlap under its throat, which it displays during a particular time. Only the male Sitana lizard has this fan-like throat. A renowned French naturalist named Georges Cuvier first discovered the species in 1829 in Pondicherry. The lizard only shows its beautiful fan-like throat during the mating season, which is the month of May and June. Then, they stand like a cobra and flaunt their colourful neck to attract the female lizards for breeding. Over the years, the species’ habitat has been deeply affected by growing industrialisation and urbanisation.