Draco LINNAEUS, 1758

OTA, H. & T. HIKIDA (1989): Karyotypes of three species of the gennus[sic] Draco (Agamidae: Lacertilia) from Sabah, Malaysia. – Japan. J. Herpetol., 13 (1): 1-6.GAULKE, M. (1993): Beobachtungen an Flugdrachen auf dem Sulu-Archipel. – Salamandra, 28 (3-4): 251-257.GAULKE, M. (1993): Beobachtungen an Flugdrachen auf dem Sulu-Archipel. – Salamandra, 28 (3-4): 251-257.

Flugdrachen / Flying Dragons

COLBERT, E.H. (1967): Adaptations for gliding in the lizard Draco. – American Museum Novitates, 2283: 1-20.

COLBERT, E.H. (2006): Adaptations for gliding in the lizard Draco. - Iguana (West Hartford), 13 (2): 145-149.

DENIGER, K. (1910): Über das „Fliegen“ der fliegenden Eidechsen. – Naturw. Wochenschr. N.F., 9 (2): 20-21.

GAULKE, M. (1993): Beobachtungen an Flugdrachen auf dem Sulu-Archipel. – Salamandra, 28: 251-257.

GRISMER, L.L. (2006): The flying reptiles of peninsular Malaysia. - Iguana (West Hartford), 13 (2): 86-93.

HENNING, W. (1936): Revision der Gattung Draco (Agamidae). – Temminckia, 1: 153-220.

HERRE, A.W. (1958): On the gliding of flying lizards, genus Draco. – Copeia, 1958: 338-339.

HONDA, M., OTA, H., KOBAYASHI, M., NABHITABHATA, J., YONG, H.-S. & T. HIKIDA (1999): Phylogenetic rerlationships of the flying lizards, genus Draco (Reptilia, Agamidae). – Zoological Science, 16: 535-549.

HONDA, M., OTA, H., SENGOKU, S. & T. HIKIDA (2000): Phylogenetic position of Draco fimbriatus, with a molecular perspective on the historical biogeography of the genus Draco (Reptilia: Agamidae). – Current Herpetology, 19: 43-55.

HUANG, S.C. & J.-X. LIU (2005): Microhabitat selection by gliding lizards (genus Draco). - In: Harrison, R.D. (ed.). Proceedings of the CTFS-AA International Field Biology Course 2005. Khao Chong, Thailand, 15 June - 14 July 2005. Center for Tropical Forest Science - Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain: 104-108.

Gliding lizards are an obvious target for predators while they perch on smooth tree trunks. Lizard body color contrast with the tree bark color, as well as availability of food resources, may be very important for determining microhabitat selection in gliding lizards. We investigated gliding lizard microhabitat selection, and found that they preferred smooth tree trunks without epiphytes. The fragmented coloration pattern on the lizard matched with the background bark of tree, possibly making it difficult for predators to detect lizard. The same ant species was observed on tree trunks with lizards and surrounding trees, which may be a possible food resource for the lizards. Therefore, the lizards’ microhabitat preferences were apparently based on predator evasion, because food was evenly distributed.

HUSAK, J.F. & J.A. McGUIRE (2014): Does 'gliding while gravid' explain Rensch's rule in flying lizards? – Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 113 (1): 270-282.

Among species with sexual size dimorphism (SSD), taxa in which males are the larger sex have increasing SSD with increasing body size, whereas in taxa in which females are the larger sex, SSD decreases with body size: Rensch’s rule. We show in flying lizards, a clade of mostly female-larger species, that SSD increases with body size, a pattern similar to that in clades with male-biased SSD or more evenly mixed SSD. The observed pattern in Draco appears due to SSD increasing with evolutionary changes in male body size; specifically divergence in body size among species that are in sympatric congeneric assemblages. We suggest that increasing body size, resulting in decreased gliding performance, reduces the relative gliding cost of gravidity in females, and switches sexual selection in males away from a small-male, gliding advantage and toward selection on large size and fighting ability as seen in many other lizards. Thus, selection for large females is likely greater than selection for large males at the smaller end of the body size continuum, whereas this relationship reverses for species at the larger end of the continuum.

INGER, R.F. (1983): Morphological and ecological variation in the flaying lizards (genus Draco). – Fieldiana Zoology, New Series, 18: 1-35.

JACOBSON, E. (1916): Tjampoeradoek (vervolg). – De Tropische Natuur, 5 (3): 39-40.

KÄSTLE, W. (1972): Keine Angst vor Flugdrachen. - Aquarien Magazin, Stuttgart, 6 (9): 376-378. (1473)

KLOMP, D.A., ORD, T.J., DAS, I., DIESMOS, A., AHMAD, N. & D. STUART-FOX (2016): Ornament size and colour as alternative strategies for enhancing communication in gliding lizards. – J. Evol. Biol., 29: 1689-1700.

Sexual ornamentation needs to be conspicuous to be effective in attracting potential mates and defending territories and indeed, a multitude of ways exists to achieve this. Two principal mechanisms for increasing conspicuousness are to increase the ornament’s colour or brightness contrast against the background and to increase the size of the ornament. We assessed the relationship between the colour and size of the dewlap, a large extendible throat-fan, across a range of species of gliding lizards (Agamidae; genus Draco) from Malaysia and the Philippines. We found a negative relationship across species between colour contrast against the background and dewlap size in males, but not in females, suggesting that males of different species use increasing colour contrast and dewlap size as alternative strategies for effective communication. Male dewlap size also increases with increasing sexual size dimorphism, and dewlap colour and brightness contrast increase with increasing sexual dichromatism in colour and brightness, respectively, suggesting that sexual selection may act on both dewlap size and colour. We further found evidence that relative predation intensity, as measured from predator attacks on models placed in the field, may play a role in the choice of strategy (high chromatic contrast or large dewlap area) a species employs. More broadly, these results highlight that each component in a signal (such as colour or size) may be influenced by different selection pressures and that by assessing components individually, we can gain a greater understanding of the evolution of signal diversity.

LAWATA, S. (2011): Historical Biogeography of Sumatra and Western Archipelago, Indonesia: Insights from the flying lizards in the genus Draco (Iguania: Agamidae). Thesis UC Berkeley.

The island arc west of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, here referred to as the Western Archipelago, is home to many endemic flora and fauna. Despite their importance in the biogeographic theater of insular Southeast Asia, little scientific attention has been given to these islands, with the exception of the four islands that comprise the Mentawai group. In this dissertation, I used the evolutionary history of the flying lizards in the genus Draco to elucidate the biogeographical history of Western Archipelago relative to ist neighboring mega-island Sumatra. In Chapter 1, I provide an updated checklist of the herpetofauna of the islands in the archipelago—a list that had not been revisited or updated in the last 20 years. My visit to the islands of Western Archipelago proved to add considerably to our knowledge of the herpetofauna occurring in the area. In Chapter 2, I present a revision of the molecular phylogeny of the genus Draco by incorporating sequence data from nuclear markers. And finally, in Chapter 3 I looked at the phylogenetics and population genetics of the most widely distributed species of flying lizards in Sunda Shelf—Draco sumatranus the common flying lizards—to discern the historical process by which they colonized the islands of the Western Archipelago. Using one mitochondrial locus and nine nuclear loci, I employed phylogenetic and coalescentbased population genetic methods to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Draco sumatranus. My results suggest that the islands of Simeulue, Nias, Siberut, Sipora, North & South Pagai and Enggano are monophyletic, but the Batu and Banyak Islands themselves are more closely related to Northwest Sumatran populations. This divergence is inferred to have occurred ~550,000 years ago. These findings reject the hypothesis of independent overwater dispersal onto each island, and support the hypothesis that the Western Archipelago had been colonized via the Batu and Banyak Islands and was subsequently isolated by a vicariant event—most likely related to the Pleistocene changes in sea levels. I also uncovered deep divergences of Sumatran D. sumatranus populations that cannot be adequately explained simply by the emergence of the Sunda Shelf basin during the last glacial maxima, or the modern-day geography of the island. This hints at the cryptic diversity harbored within Sumatra, and merits a more rigorous study of the island’s biogeography."

LEEFMANS, S. (1915): Vliegende draakjes. – De Tropische Natuur, 4 (7/8): 97-99.

LIEFTINCK, M.A. (1936): Op heeterdaad. - – De Tropische Natuur, 25 (4): 61-66.

LINNAEUS, C. (1758): Description of the genus Draco and type species volans. - In: “Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis”. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiæ. 10th Edition: 824 pp.

MANTHEY, U. & W. GROSSMANN (1997): Genus Draco. - In: Amphibien und Reptilien Südostasiens. Natur und Tier – Verlag, Münster: 167-176.

MCGUIRE, J.A. (1998): Phylogenetic systematics, scaling relationships, and the evolution of gliding performance in flying lizards (genus Draco). – Unpublished D. Phil. Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin.

MCGUIRE, J.A. (2003): Allometric prediction of locomotor performance: an example from southeast Asian flying lizards. – Am. Nat., 161 (2): 337-349.

MCGUIRE, J.A. & A.C ALCALA (2000): A taxonomic revision of the flying lizards (Iguania: Agamidae: Draco) of the Philippine Islands, with a description of a new species. – Herpetological Monographs, 14: 81-138.

MCGUIRE, J.A., COTORAS, D.D., O'CONNELL, B., LAWALATA, S.Z.S., WANG-CLAYPOOL, C.Y., STUBBS, A., HUANG, X., WOGAN, G.O.U., HYKIN, S.M., REILLY, S.B., BI, K., RIYANTO, A., ARIDA, E., SMITH, L.L., MILNE, H., STREICHER, J.W. & D.T. ISKANDAR, (2018): Squeezing water from a stone: High-throughput sequencing from a 145-year old holotype resolves (barely) a cryptic species problem in Flying Lizards. – Peer J, 6: e4470.

Despite exhibiting considerable interspecific variation in body mass, flying lizards of the genus Draco are isometric in their area-mass scaling relationships and exhibit no significant compensatory variation in wing aspect ratio. Thus, larger species are expected to be relatively poor gliders, in lieu of behavioral or physiological compensation, when compared with smaller congeners. Here we tested this hypothesis by conducting gliding performance trials for 11 Draco species spanning virtually the entire size range of the genus. We considered three primary performance variables: maximum velocity adjusted for wind conditions, height lost over a standard horizontal glide distance, and glide angle. Comparative analysis confirmed that larger species are relatively poor gliders and do not compensate substantially for their higher wing loadings via either behavioral or physiological mechanisms. Flying lizards were found to exhibit substantial context-dependent variation in glide performance, with smaller species often exhibiting extensive variation in height lost and glide angle between trials. Variation also was observed in empirically derived velocity profiles, with only a subset of individuals appearing to performequilibrium glides. Such size-dependent variation in performance has important consequences for the ecology and evolution of flying lizards and other glissant taxa.

MCGUIRE, J.A. & R. DUDLEY (2011): The Biology of gliding in Flying Lizards (Genus Draco) and their fossil and extant analogs. - Integrative and Comparative Biology, 51 (6): 983-990.

MCGUIRE, J.A. & K.B. HEANG (2001): Phylogentic systematics of Southeast Asian flying lizards (Iguania: Agamidae: Draco) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Biological Journal of the Linaean Society, 72: 203-229.
Abstract:
Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data using maximum parsimony, minimum evolution (of log-determinant distances), and maximum-likelihood optimality criteria provided a robust estimate of Draco phylogenetic relationships. Although the analyses based on alternative optimality criteria were not entirely congruent, nonparametric bootstrap analyses indentified many well-supported clades that were common to the analyses under the three alternative criteria. Relationships within the major clades are generally well resolved and strongly supported, although this is not the case for the Philippine volans subclade. The hypothesis that a clade composed primarily of Philippine species represents a rapid radiation could not be rejected. A revised taxonomy for Draco is provided.

MCGUIRE, J.A. & B.H. KIEW (2001): Phylogenetic systematics of Southeast Asian flying lizards (Iguania: Agamidae: Draco) as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data. – Biol. J. Linn. Soc., 72 (2): 203-229.

Sympatric species that initially overlap in resource use are expected to partition the environment in ways that will minimize interspecific competition. This shift in resource use can in turn prompt evolutionary changes in morphology. A classic example of habitat partitioning and morphological differentiation are the Caribbean Anolis lizards. Less well studied, but nevertheless striking analogues to the Anolis are the Southeast Asian Draco lizards. Draco and Anolis have evolved independently of each other for at least 80 million years. Their comparison subsequently offers a special opportunity to examine mechanisms of phenotypic differentiation between two ecologically diverse, but phylogenetically distinct groups. We tested whether Draco shared ecological axes of differentiation with Anolis (e.g., habitat use), whether this differentiation reflected interspecific competition, and to what extent adaptive change in morphology has occurred along these ecological axes. Using existing data on Anolis, we compared the habitat use and morphology of Draco in a field study of allopatric and sympatric species on the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and in the Philippines. Sympatric Draco lizards partitioned the environment along common resource axes to the Anolis lizards, especially in perch use. Furthermore, the morphology of Draco was correlated with perch use in the same way as it was in Anolis: species that used wider perches exhibited longer limb lengths. These results provide an important illustration of how interspecific competition can occur along common ecological axes in different animal groups, and how natural selection along these axes can generate the same type of adaptive change in morphology.

PFEFFER, P. (1962): Parades et comportement territorial chez trios espèces de Dragons-volants (Agamides) d´Indonesie. – Terre et la Vie,109 (4): 417-427.

SCHROO, H. (1915): Eenige mededeelingen over vliegende draakjes. – De Tropische Natuur, 4 (11): 174-176.

SCHROO, H. (1917): Nog eens “vliegende draakjes”. – De Tropische Natuur, 6 (4): 61-62.

STORR, G.M. (1974): Agamid lizards of the genera Caimanops, Physignathus and Diporiphora in Western Australia and Northern Territory. – Records W. Aust. Mus., 3 (2): 121-146.

WANDOLLECK, B. (1900): Zur Kenntnis der Gattung Draco L. - Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologischn-Ethnologischen Museums zu Dresden, 9: 1-16.

WANG, J. & P. LI (2010): A review of adaptations for gliding in Draco and the origin of glissant locomotion. - Sichuan J. Zool., 29 (5): 642-646. (In Chinesisch)

WERNER, F. (1912): Über die Aufblähbarkeit des Körpers beim fliegenden Drachen (Draco) und der Hinterhauptslappen bei Chamaeleon dilepis. — Zool. Anz., 39 (17/18): 523-529.

Draco beccarii PETERS & DORIAE, 1878

Beccaris Flugdrache

PETERS, W.C.H. & G. DORIA (1878): Catalogo dei retilli e dei batraci raccolti da O. Beccari, L. M. D'Alberts e A. A. Bruijn. nella sotto-regione Austro-Malese. - Annali del Museo Civico de Storia Naturale di Genova, (1) 13: 323-450.

Draco biaro LAZELL,1987

Lazell´s Flying Dragon

LAZELL, J. (1987): A new flying lizard from the Sangihe Archipelago, Indonesia. – Museum of Comparative Zoology breviora, 488: 1-9.

Draco bimaculatus GÜNTHER,1864

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

GAULKE, M. (1993): Beobachtungen an Flugdrachen auf dem Sulu-Archipel. – Salamandra, 28 (3-4): 251-257.

Auf den Inseln des Sulu-Archipels sind zwei Flugdrachen-Arten verbreitet: D. v. reticulatus und D. l. bimaculatus. Bei D. v. reticulatus zeigen Männchen und Weibchen einen auffälligen Geschlechtsdimorphismus in der Färbung, während bei dem kleineren D. l. bimaculatus beide Geschlechter eine ähnliche Farbtracht haben. In meinen Untersuchungen wies ich D. v. reticulatus auf mehr Inseln nach als D. l. bimaculatus. Während D. v. reticulatus in Kokospalm-Plantagen zu finden war, wurde D. l. bimaculatus ausschließlich im Wald beobachtet. TAYLOR, der in den zwanziger Jahren auf den Philippinen sammelte, wies D. l. bimaculatus innerhalb des Sulu-Archipels auf mehr Inseln nach als D. v. reticulatus. Wo beide Arten sympatrisch auftraten, fand er sie gelegentlich syntop in Kokospalm-Plantagen.

GÜNTHER, A. (1864): The Reptiles of British India. London (Taylor & Francis), xxvii + 452 pp.

Draco blanfordii BOULENGER, 1885

Blanfords Flugdrache / Blanfords Flying Dragon

ASHAN, M.F. (1992): A record of Draco blandfordii from Bangladesh. – Hamadryad, 17: 39-40.

BISWAS, S. (1967): Occurrence of Draco blanfordi Boulenger (Sauria: Agamidae) in Assam, India. – J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 64: 374-375.

BLANFORD, W.T. (1878): Notes on some Reptilia from the Himalayas and Burma. - J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, (2) xlvii: 125-131.

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

SMITH, M.A. (1937): Draco blanfordi and its allies. - Bulletin of the Raffles Museum, 13: 75-76.

SRICHAIRAT, N., JANTRAROTAI, P., DUENGKAE, P. & Y. CHUAYNKERN (2014): Morphometric analysis of three Draco lizard species (D. blanfordii, D. maculatus, and D. taeniopterus) (Squamata: Agamidae) from Thailand. - Kasetsart J. Nat. Sci., 48 (3): 383-402.

Two hundred sixty-seven preserved specimens of three Draco lizard species from Thailand consisting of D. blanfordii (17 females and 70 males), D. maculatus (58 females and 79 males) and D. taeniopterus (13 females and 30 males) were examined using 21 morphometric characters and 25 character ratios to assess morphometric differences. The results of univariate analysis showed that there were 12 morphometric characters and 2 character ratios that can be used for discrimination of the three Draco species regardless of sexual differences. Among these three species, it was found that 13 morphometric characters and 7 character ratios and 15 morphometric characters and 8 character ratios can be used to discriminate female and male lizards, respectively. The results of cluster analysis produced a dendrogram of the relationships among the three species and revealed that the three Draco species were divided into two morphometric clusters at a level of 0% of information remaining in which the D. blanfordii cluster was distinctly different from the D. maculatus and D. taeniopterus cluster.

Draco boschmai HENNING, 1936

HENNING, W. (1936): Revision der Gattung Draco (Agamidae). – Temminckia, 1: 153-220.

Draco caerulhians LAZELL, 1992

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

LAZELL, J. (1992): New flying lizards and predictive biogeography of two Asian archipelagos. – Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 152: 475-505.

Draco cornutus GÜNTHERR, 1864

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

BARTLETT, E. (1895): The crocodiles and lizards of Borneo in the Sarawak Museum, with descriptions of supposed new species, and the variation of colours in the several species during life. – Journal of the Straits Branch Royal Asiatic Society Singapore, 28: 73-96.

BARBOUR, T. (1903): A new species of flying lizard from Sarawak, Borneo. - Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington, 16: 59-60.

GOLDBERG, S.R. (2017): Natural history notes: Draco cornutus (Horned Flying Lizard). Reproduction. – Herpetol. Rev., 48 (4): 846.

HONDA, M., KOBAYASHI, M., YONG, H.-S., OTA, H. & T. HIKIDA (1999): Taxonomic re-evaluation of the status of Draco cornutus Günther, 1864 (Reptilia: Agamidae). – Amphibia-Reptilia, 20: 195-210.

KLOMP, D.A., STUART-FOX, D., DAS, I. & T.J. ORD (2014): Marked colour divergence in gliding membranes of a tropical lizard mirror population differences in the colour of falling leaves. – Biology Letters, 10: 20140776.

Populations of the Bornean gliding lizard, Draco cornutus, differ markedly in the colour of their gliding membranes. They also differ in local vegetation type (mangrove forest versus lowland rainforest) and consequently, the colour of falling leaves (red and brown/black in mangrove versus green, brown and black in rainforest). We show that the gliding membranes of these lizards closely match the colours of freshly fallen leaves in the local habitat as they appear to the visual system of birds (their probable predators). Furthermore, gliding membranes more closely resembled colours of local fallen leaves than standing foliage or fallen leaves in the other population’s habitat. This suggests that the two populations have diverged in gliding membrane coloration to match the colours of their local falling leaves, and that mimicking falling leaves is an adaptation that functions to reduce predation by birds.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1992): A preliminary study of sexual dimorphism in wing morphology of five species of the flying lizards, genus Draco. – Japanese Journal of Herpetology, 14 (4): 178-183.

OTA, H. & T. HIKIDA (1989): Karyotypes of three species of the gennus[sic] Draco (Agamidae: Lacertilia) from Sabah, Malaysia. – Japan. J. Herpetol., 13 (1): 1-6.

Draco cristatellus GÜNTHERR, 1872

Leisten-Flugdrache / Crested Flying Dragon

GÜNTHER, A. (1872): On the reptiles and amphibians of Borneo. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1872: 586-600.

Draco cyanopterus PETERS, 1867

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

PETERS, W.C.H. (1867): Herpetologische Notizen. - Monatsber. königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin. 1867: 13-37.

Draco dussumieri DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1837

Western Ghats Flying Lizard

BALACHANDRAN, S. (2000): Occurrence of Draco or Flying Lizard Draco dussumieri in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. –Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, 97 (1): 147-148.

JOHN, K.O. (1962): Notes on the bionomics of the flying lizard, Draco dussumieri Dum. & Bib. – J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 59: 298-301.

JOHN, K.O. (1967): Activity rhythms and thermal regulation in the South Indian flying lizard, Draco dussumieri Dum. & Bib. – J. Anim. Morph. Physiol., 14: 131-139.

JOHN, K.O. (1967): Observations on the mating behaviour and copulation in Draco dussumieri Dum. & Bib. (Reptilia: Sauria). – J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 64: 112-115.

JOHN, K.O. (1968): Cholinesterase activity in the muscles of two lizards – a glider and a runner. – J. Anim. Morph. Physiol., 13: 126-132.

JOHN, K.O. (1970): On the ´patagial musculature` of the South Indian flying lizard Draco dussumieri Dum. & Bib. – Br. J. Herpet., 4: 161-168.

JOHN, K.O. (1970): ´Territorial behaviour` in the South Indian flying lizard Draco dussumieri Dum. & Bib. – Br. J. Herpet., 4: 169-171.

JOHN, K.O. (1970): Studies on the histophysiology of the muscles of the South Indian flying lizard, Draco dussumieri (Dum. & Bib.). – J. Anim. Morph. Physiol., 17: 44-55.

JOHN, K.O. (1971): Caudal musculature of the south Indian flying lizard Draco dussumieri Dum. And Bibr. – Acta zool., Stockholm, 52: 249-255.

JOHN, K.O. (1971): A histochemical study of the pectoralis muscle of the south Indian flying lizard, Draco dussumieri. – Experientia, 27: 517-519.

MANGALRAJ JOHNSON, J. (1983): On flying lizard in Mundanthurai Sanctuary. – J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 80 (1): 229-230.

PARDESHI, A. & M. NAIK (2017): First Record of the Southern Flying Lizard, Draco dussumieri (Duméril and Bibron 1837), from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. – IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 24 (3): 191-192.

PRAKASH, R. & S.C. RAGHAVAIAH (1958): The heart of the Indian flying lizard, Draco dussumieri, with special reference to the conducting system. – J. Anat. Soc. India, 6: 107-114.

PRAKASH, R. & S.C. RAGHAVAIAH (1958): The heart of the Indian flying lizard Draco dussumieri with special reference to the conducting system. – Proc. Indian Sci. Congr., 45 (3): 428.

PRASAD, J. (1955): The skull, with special reference to the temporal region of the flying lizard, Draco dussumieri Dumeril and Bibron. – Proc. zool. Soc. Calcutta, 8: 39-64.

SREEKAR, R., PURUSHOTHAM, C.B., SAINI, K., RAO, S.N., PELLETIER, S. & S. CHAPLOD (2013): Photographic capture-recapture sampling for assessing populations of the Indian Gliding Lizard Draco dussumieri. - PLoS ONE 8(2): e55935: 1-5.

The usage of invasive tagging methods to assess lizard populations has often been criticised, due to the potential negative effects of marking, which possibly cause increased mortality or altered behaviour. The development of safe, less invasive techniques is essential for improved ecological study and conservation of lizard populations. In this study, we describe a photographic capture-recapture (CR) technique for estimating Draco dussumieri (Agamidae) populations. We used photographs of the ventral surface of the patagium to identify individuals. To establish that the naturally occurring blotches remained constant through time, we compared capture and recapture photographs of 45 pen-marked individuals after a 30 day interval. No changes in blotches were observed and individual lizards could be identified with 100% accuracy. The population density of D. dussumieri in a two hectare areca-nut plantation was estimated using the CR technique with ten sampling occasions over a ten day period. The resulting recapture histories for 24 individuals were analysed using population models in the program CAPTURE. All models indicated that nearly all individuals were captured. The estimated probability for capturing D. dussumieri on at least one occasion was 0.92 and the estimated population density was 1361.65 lizards/ha. Our results demonstrate the potential for applying CR to population studies in gliding lizards (Draco spp.) and other species with distinctive markings.

SUGATHAN, R. (1985): Occurrence of flying lizard (Draco dussumieri) in the Nilgiris. – J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 81 (3): 710.

Draco fimbriatus KUHL, 1820

Fransen-Flugdrache / Fringed Flying Dragon

HONDA, M., OTA, H., SENGOKU, S. & T. HIKIDA (2000): Phylogenetic position of Draco fimbriatus, with a molecular perspective on the historical biogeography of the genus Draco (Reptilia: Agamidae). – Current Herpetology, 19: 43-55.

KUHL, H. (1820): Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie - Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Amphibien. - Hermannsche Buchhandlung, Frankfurt, 152 pp.


Draco fimbriatus fimbriatus KUHL, 1820


Draco fimbriatus punctatus

Draco formosus BOULENGER, 1900

Rotlappen-Flugdrache / Dusky Gliding Lizard

BAKER, N. (2016): Five species of gliding lizard Draco spp. at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. – SEAVR, 2016: 110-112.

BOULENGER, G.A. (1900): Description of new batrachians and reptiles from Larut Hills, Perak. - Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., (6) 7: 186-193.

DIONG, C.H. & S.Y.T. SOON (1999): Size and shape description of oviductal eggs of Draco obscurus formosus (Squamata: Agamidae). - Asiatic Herpetological Research, 8: 25-28.

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

Draco guentheri BOULENGER, 1885

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

BOULENGER, G.A. (1885): Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. – London (Taylor & Francis). 436 S.

GRAY, J.E. (1831): A synopsis of the species of Class Reptilia. - In: Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon: The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation by the Baron Cuvier with additional descriptions of all the species hither named, and of many before noticed [V Whittaker, Treacher and Co., London: 481 + 110 pp.

Draco haematopogon GRAY,1831

Rotbart-Flugdrache / Red-barbed Flying Dragon

BOULENGER, G.A. (1885): Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). I. Geckonidae, Eublepharidae, Uroplatidae, Pygopodidae, Agamidae. – London (Taylor & Francis). 436 S.

GRAY, J.E. (1831): A synopsis of the species of Class Reptilia. - In: Griffith, E & E. Pidgeon: The animal kingdom arranged in conformity with its organisation by the Baron Cuvier with additional descriptions of all the species hither named, and of many before noticed [V Whittaker, Treacher and Co., London: 481 + 110 pp.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1992): A preliminary study of sexual dimorphism in wing morphology of five species of the flying lizards, genus Draco. – Japanese Journal of Herpetology, 14 (4): 178-183.

Draco indochinensis SMITH, 1928

SMITH, M.A. (1928): Description of a new species of Draco from the Indo-Chinese Region. - Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (10) 2: 248.

Draco jareckii LAZELL, 1992

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

LAZELL, J. (1992): New flying lizards and predictive biogeography of two Asian archipelagos. – Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 152: 475-505.

Draco lineatus DAUDIN, 1802

Linierter Flugdrache / Lined Flying Dragon

DAUDIN, F.M. (1802): Description of Draco lineatus. In: “Histoire Naturelle, génerale et particulièredes reptiles, ouvrage faisant suite, a l'histoire naturelle, générale et particulière…” vol. 3. F. Dufart, Paris.

LESSON, R.-P. (1834): Description of Draco bourouniensis. – In: “Illustrations de Zoologie”. Arthus Bertrand, Paris.

McGUIRE, BROWN, MUMPUNI, RIYANTO & ANDAYANI (2007): The flying lizards of the Draco lineatus group: a taxonomic revision with descriptions of two new species. – Herpet. Monogr., 21 (1): 179-212.

Lined Flying Dragon


Draco lineatus ochropterus WERNER, 1910

Lined Flying Dragon

WERNER, F. (1910): Über neue oder seltene Reptilien des Naturhistorischen Museums in Hamburg. - II. Eidechsen. - Jahrb. Hamburg. Wiss. Anst., vol. 27 (1909), suppl. no. 2, 1910: 1-46.

Draco maculatus GRAY, 1845

Gefleckter Flugdrache / Spotted Flying Dragon

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

SRICHAIRAT, N., JANTRAROTAI, P., DUENGKAE, P. & Y. CHUAYNKERN (2014): Morphometric analysis of three Draco lizard species (D. blanfordii, D. maculatus, and D. taeniopterus) (Squamata: Agamidae) from Thailand. - Kasetsart J. Nat. Sci., 48 (3): 383-402.

Gefleckter Flugdrache / Spotted Flying Dragon


Draco maculates divergens TAYLOR, 1934

Gefleckter Flugdrache / Spotted Flying Dragon


Draco maculates haasei BOETTGER, 1893

Gefleckter Flugdrache / Spotted Flying Dragon

BOETTGER, O. (1893): Ein neuer Drache (Draco) aus Siam. - Zoologischer Anzeiger, 16: 429-430.


Draco maculates whiteheadi BOULENGER,1900

Gefleckter Flugdrache / Spotted Flying Dragon

BOULENGER, G.A. (1900): On the reptiles, batrachians (and fishes) collected by the late Mr. john Whitehead in the interior of Hainan. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1899: 956-959.

Draco maximus BOULENGER, 1893

Grosser Flugdrache / Great Flying Dragon

BOULENGER, G.A. (1893): Description of new reptiles and batrachians obtained in Borneo by Mr. C. Hose and Mr. A. Everett. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1893: 522-528.

DESPAX, R. (1912): Sur trois collections de reptiles et de batraciens provenant de l’Archipel Malais. - Bull. Mus. natl. Hist. nat. Paris, 18: 198-205.

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

Draco melanopogon BOULENGER, 1887

Schwarzbart-Flugdrache / Black-barbed Flying Dragon

BAKER, N. (2016): Five species of gliding lizard Draco spp. at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. – SEAVR, 2016: 110-112.

KLOMP, D.A., STUART-FOX, D., CASSIDY, E.J., AHMAD, N. & T.J. ORDA (2017): Color pattern facilitates species recognition but not signal detection: a field test using robots. – Behav. Ecol., 28 (2): 597-606.

There are many factors that affect signal design, including the need for rapid signal detection and the ability to identify the signal as conspecific. Understanding these different sources of selection on signal design is essential to explain the evolution of both signal complexity and signal diversity. We assessed the relative importance of detection and recognition for signal design in the blackbearded gliding lizard, Draco melanopogon, which uses the extension and retraction of a large, black-and-white dewlap (or throat fan) in territorial communication. We presented free-living lizards with robots displaying dewlaps of different designs that varied in the proportion of the black and white components. We found no effect of dewlap brightness or design on the time it took for a lizard to detect the robot, consistent with the view that initial detection is likely to be primarily elicited by movement rather than specific color or pattern. However, males (but not females) responded with a greater intensity to the dewlap treatment that most resembled the natural dewlap color and design of the species. Furthermore, males were more likely to display to any dewlap color in the presence of a neighbor. These results suggest that dewlap pattern may play an important role in species recognition but has minimal influence on the initial detection of the signal. Importantly, our results also highlight that factors unrelated to discrimination, such as social cues and individual motivational state, may affect responses to species identity cues.

SHINE, R., KEOGH, S., DOUGHTY, P. & H. GIRAGOSSYAN (1998): Costs of reproduction and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in a “flying lizard” Draco melanopogon (Agamidae). – Journal of Zoology, London, 246: 203-213.


Draco melanopogon melanopogon BOULENGER,1887

Schwarzbart-Flugdrache / Black-barbed Flying Dragon


Draco melanopogon nigriappendiculatus BARTLKETT, 1894

Schwarzbart-Flugdrache / Black-barbed Flying Dragon

BARTLETT, E. (1895): The crocodiles and lizards of Borneo in the Sarawak Museum, with descriptions of supposed new species, and the variation of colours in the several species during life. – Journal of the Straits Branch Royal Asiatic Society Singapore, 28: 73-96.

Draco mindanensis STEJNEGER, 1908

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

REALUBIT, N.D.C., DIESMOS, M.L., LORENZO, A., LAYOLA, L.A. DE, DIESMOS, A.C., BROWN, J.C., BROWN, R.M., COBB, K.A., BERGMANN, P.J., MORINAGA, G., SILER, C.D., HURON, N.A. & J.M. SILER (2015): Geographic distribution: Draco mindanensis (Mindanao Flying Lizard). – Herpetol. Rev., 46 (2): 216.

STEJNEGER, L. (1908): A new species of flying lizard from the Philippine Islands. - Proc. US Natl. Mus., 33: 677-679.

Draco modiglianii VINCIGUERRA, 1892

Modoglianis Flugdrache & Lined Flying Lizard

VINCIGUERRA, D. (1892): Description of Draco modiglianii. – In: “Rettili e batraci di Engano raccolti dal Dott. Elio Modigliani”. - Ann. Mus. civ. stor. nat. Genova, 2. Ser. 7 (32): 517-526.

Draco norvillii ALCOCK, 1895

Norvill´s Flying Lizard

ALCOCK, A. (1895): On a new species of Flying Lizard from Assam. – J. Asiat. Soc. Beng., 64: 14-15.

MATHEW, R. (2006): Occurrence of Draco norvilli Alcock (Reptilia: Sauria: Agamidae) in Meghalaya, north east India. – Rec. Zool. Surv. India, 106 (4): 97-98.

Draco obscurus BOULENGER, 1887

Rotlappen-Flugdrache / Dusky Gliding Lizard

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1992): A preliminary study of sexual dimorphism in wing morphology of five species of the flying lizards, genus Draco. – Japanese Journal of Herpetology, 14 (4): 178-183.


Draco obscurus obscurus BOULENGER,1887

Rotlkappen-Flugdrache / Dusky Gliding Lizard


Draco obscurus laetepictus HENNING,1936

Rotlkappen-Flugdrache / Dusky Gliding Lizard

Draco ornatus GRAY, 1845

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

Draco palawanensis MCGUIRE & ALCALA, 2000

Palawan-Flugdrache

MCGUIRE, J.A. & A.C. ALCALA (2000): A taxonomic revision of the flying lizards (Iguania: Agamidae: Draco) of the Philippine Islands, with a description of a new species. – Herpetological Monographs, 14: 81-138.

Draco quadrasi BOETTGER, 1893

Quadras’ Flugdrache / Quadras’ Flying Lizard

BOETTGER, O. (1893): Description of Draco quadrasi. – In: “Katalog der Reptilien-Sammlung im Museum der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Frankfurt am Main”. I. Teil (Rhynchocephalen, Schildkröten, Krokodile, Eidechsen, Chamäleons). Gebrüder Knauer, Frankfurt a. M., x + 140 pp.

Draco quinquefasciatus HARDWICKE & GRAY, 1827

Fünfband-Flugdrache / Five-lined Flying Dragon

BAKER, N. (2016): Five species of gliding lizard Draco spp. at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. – SEAVR, 2016: 110-112.

GRISMER, J.L., POWELS, G. & T. YOUMANS (2002): Geographic distribution: Draco quinquefasciatus. – Herpetol. Rev., 33 (1): 65.

OTA, H. & T. HIKIDA (1989): Karyotypes of three species of the gennus[sic] Draco (Agamidae: Lacertilia) from Sabah, Malaysia. – Japan. J. Herpetol., 13 (1): 1-6.

Draco reticulatus GÜNTHER, 1864

Flugdrache / Flying Dragon

Draco rhytisma MUSTERS, 1983

MUSTERS, C.J.M. (1983): Taxonomy of the genus Draco L. (Agamidae, Lacertilia, Reptilia). - Zoologische Verhandelingen (199): 1-120.

Draco spilonotus GÜNTHER,1872

Sulawesi-Flugdrache

GÜNTHER, A. (1872): On the reptiles and amphibians of Borneo. - Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 1872: 586-600.

Draco spilopterus (WIEGMANN, 1834)

Philippinischer Flugdrache / Philippine Flying Dragon

KUZMIN, Y., TKACH, V.V. & S.E. BUSH (2012): A new species of Rhabdias (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Agamid lizards on Luzon Island, Philippines. – Journal of Parasitology, 98 (3): 608-611.

Rhabdias odilebaini n. sp. is described on the basis of specimens found in the lungs of 2 species of agamid lizards: the Philippine flying lizard Draco spilopterus and the marbled bloodsucker Bronchocela marmorata. Specimens were collected in Aurora Province, Luzon Island, Philippines. The new species of Rhabdias is characterized by presence of 4 submedian lips, inconspicuous lateral lips, rounded cross-shaped oral opening, and tail end bent dorsally. This species is morphologically distinct from other Rhabdias spp. that parasitize reptilian and amphibian hosts, including 3 other species known to parasitize lizards of the Agamidae.

MÄGDEFRAU, H. & K. MÄGDEFRAU (1994): Erstnachzucht von philippinischen Flugdrachen, Draco spilopterus, in der zweiten Generation. - Salamandra, Bonn, 30 (1): 1-11. (557)

MÄGDEFRAU, K. (1991): Haltung, Verhaltensbeobachtungen und Zuchtversuche von Draco spilopterus (WIEGMANN, 1834). - herpetofauna, 13 (74): 29-34. (1468)

TKACH, V.V, KUZMIN, Y. & R.M. BROWN (2011): Rhabdias mcguirei sp. nov. (Nematoda, Rhabdiasidae) from the flying lizard, Draco spilopterus (Squamata, Agamidae) of the northern Philippines. – Acta Parasitol., 56 (4): 406-411.

Rhabdias mcguirei sp. nov., is described on the basis of specimens found in the lungs of northern Philippine flying lizards, Draco spilopterus (Reptilia, Agamidae) collected in Aurora province, Luzon Island, Philippines. It is characterized by a rounded oral opening, a buccal capsule consisting of anterior and posterior parts, and the shape of the cuticular inflation in the anterior part of the body: the cuticle is less inflated in the anterior-most part, with the inflation gradually thickening up to the level of the oesophageal-intestinal junction. The new species is differentiated from the 11 most closely related species of Rhabdias previously known from lizards.

Draco sumatranus SCHLEGEL, 1844

Sumatra-Flugdrache / Common Gliding Lizard

BAKER, N. (2016): Five species of gliding lizard Draco spp. at Gunung Pulai, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. – SEAVR, 2016: 110-112.

CHEONG, W. & N. ILYA (2018): Draco sumatranus (Sumatran Gliding Lizard) Reproduction. - Herpetological Review 49 (4): 698.

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

KLOMP, D.A., STUART-FOX, D., DAS, I. & T.J. ORD (2017): Gliding lizards use the position of the sun to enhance social display. – Biology Letters, 13: 20160979.

Effective communication requires animal signals to be readily detected by receivers in the environments in which they are typically given. Certain light conditions enhance the visibility of colour signals and these conditions can vary depending on the orientation of the sun and the position of the signaller. We tested whether Draco sumatranus gliding lizards modified their position relative to the sun to enhance the conspicuousness of their throat-fan (dewlap) during social display to conspecifics. The dewlap was translucent, and we found that lizards were significantly more likely to orient themselves perpendicular to the sun when displaying. This increases the dewlap’s radiance, and likely, its conspicuousness, by increasing the amount of light transmitted through the ornament. This is a rare example of a behavioural adaptation for enhancing the visibility of an ornament to distant receivers.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1993): Natural history observations of the flying lizard, Draco volans sumatranus (Agamidae, Squamata) from Sarawak, Malaysia. – Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 41 (1): 83-94.

A field study of Draco volans sumatranus was conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia. Adult females were significantly larger than adult males in snout-vent length (SVL). Clutch size varied, independent of maternal SVL, from one to five. The lizards were strictly arboreal and diurnally active with two peaks of activity before and after noon. There were no differences in perch height between the sexes. The number of males observed was correlated with air temperature. Lack of thermoregulatory behavior and the relationship between body temperature and air temperature suggest that the flying lizard is thermally passive. Home ranges of resident males consisted of one to three adjacent trees, which wholly overlapped with those of one to three females. In most cases, resident males were larger than intruder males both in SVL and dewlap length.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1994): Field observations on the social behavior of the flying lizard, Draco volans sumatranus, in Borneo. – Copeia, 1994 (1): 124-130.

The behavior of the flying lizard, Draco volans sumatranus, was observed in the field and recorded on videotapes. Resident males were more active than were females and nonresident males. Gliding was more frequently observed in males than in females. Draco v. sumatranus appeared to be a sit-and-wait predator, feeding mostly on ants. Feeding frequency did not differ between males and females. Four display patterns, one dewlap extension and three types of pushup, were performed only by males. Other male-male displays and male-female displays, including wing expansion, were also observed. Social behavior and ecological features of flying lizards show great similarities with those of anoline lizards of the family Iguanidae.

SCHLEGEL, H. (1844): Description of Draco sumatranus. – In: “Abbildungen neuer oder unvollständig bekannter Amphibien, nach der Natur oder dem Leben entworfen”. Düsseldorf (Arnz & Comp.), i-xiv + 141 pp. [1837-1844].

Draco taeniopterus GÜNTHER, 1861

Gebänderter Flugdrache / Thai Flying Dragon / Barred Flying Dragon

GOLDBERG, S.R. & L.L. GRISMER (2015): Notes on reproduction of seven species of Draco: D. abbreviatus, D. blanfordii, D. formosus, D. maculatus, D. maximus, D. sumatranus, D. taeniopterus (Squamata: Agamidae) from South-east Asia. - Hamadryad 37 (1-2): 117-121.

GOLDBERG, S.R. & GRISMER, L.L. (2016): Draco taeniopterus (Barred Gliding Lizard). Reproduction. - Herpetological Review, 47 (4): 669.

GÜNTHER, A. (1861): Second list of Siamese reptiles. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (3) 8: 266-268.

GÜNTHER, A. (1861): Second list of Siamese reptiles. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1861: 187-189

SRICHAIRAT, N., JANTRAROTAI, P., DUENGKAE, P. & Y. CHUAYNKERN (2014): Morphometric analysis of three Draco lizard species (D. blanfordii, D. maculatus, and D. taeniopterus) (Squamata: Agamidae) from Thailand. - Kasetsart J. Nat. Sci., 48 (3): 383-402.

Draco timoriensis KUHL, 1820

Timor-Flugdrache / Timor Flying Dragon

KUHL, H. (1820): Beiträge zur Zoologie und vergleichenden Anatomie - Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Amphibien. - Hermannsche Buchhandlung, Frankfurt, 152 pp.

Draco volans LINNAEUS, 1758

Gewöhnlicher Flugdrache / Javanischer Flugdrache / Common Flying Dragon

ALAGARSWAMI, K., LAL MOHAN, R.S., JAMES, D.B. & A.C. ALCALA (1967): Population biology of the ´flying´ lizard, Draco volans, on Negros Island, Philippines. – Nat. appl. Sci. Bull. Univ. Philipp., 20: 335-372.

ALCALA, A.C. (1966): Populations of three tropical lizards on Negros Island, Philippines. Ph.D. Thesis, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. 320 pp.

ALCALA, A.C. (1967): Population biology of the „flying“ lizard, Draco volans, on Negros Island, Philippines. – Nat.appl. Sci. Bull. Univ. Philipp., 20: 335-372.

BLASS, G. (1966): Ich fange fliegende Drachen. – Die Aquarien- und Terrarien-Zeitschrift, Stuttgart, 19 (11): 347-349.

BLASS, G. (1977): The flying lizard (Draco volans). – Nordisk herpet. Foren., 20 (2): 36-40. (in Dänisch)

CARD, W.C. (1994): Draco volans (flying dragon). Reproduction. – Herpetological Review, 25 (2): 65.

GRAUWMEIJER, E. (1981): Draco volans. – Lacerta, 39 (8): 113.

HAIRSTON, N.G. (1957): Observations on the behavior of Draco volans in the Philippines. – Copeia, 1957 (4): 262-265.

KÄSTLE, W. (1972): Keine Angst vor Flugdrachen. - Aquarien Magazin, Stuttgart, 6 (9): 376-378.

KLINGEL, H. (1965): Über das Flugverhalten von Draco volans (Agamidae) und verwandten Arten. – Zoologischer Anzeiger, 175 (4/6): 273-281.

KLYNSTRA, F.B. (1959): Draco volans. – Lacerta, 17: 57-59.

LEDERER, G. (1932): Beobachtungen an Flugdrachen (Draco volans L.). – Zool. Gart. Leipzig, 5: 285-287.

LINNAEUS, C. (1758): Description of the genus Draco and type species volans. - In: “Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis”. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiæ. 10th Edition: 824 pp.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1992): A preliminary study of sexual dimorphism in wing morphology of five species of the flying lizards, genus Draco. – Japanese Journal of Herpetology, 14 (4): 178-183.

MORI, A. & T. HIKIDA (1993): Natural history observations of the flying lizard, Draco volans sumatranus (Agamidae, Squamata) from Sarawak, Malaysia. – Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 41 (1): 83-94.

A field study of Draco volans sumatranus was conducted in Sarawak, Malaysia. Adult females were significantly larger than adult males in snout-vent length (SVL). Clutch size varied, independent of maternal SVL, from one to five. The lizards were strictly arboreal and diurnally active with two peaks of activity before and after noon. There were no differences in perch height between the sexes. The number of males observed was correlated with air temperature. Lack of thermoregulatory behavior and the relationship between body temperature and air temperature suggest that the flying lizard is thermally passive. Home ranges of resident males consisted of one to three adjacent trees, which wholly overlapped with those of one to three females. In most cases, resident males were larger than intruder males both in SVL and dewlap length.

PETZOLD, H.-G. (1974): Erfolg und Mißerfolg mit javanischen Flugdrachen ´Draco volans`. – Aquar. Terrar., Leipzig, 21 (5): 158-163. (1471)

PFEFFER, P. (1962): Parades et comportement territorial chez trios espèces de Dragons-volans (Agamides) d´Indonesie. – Terre et la Vie,109 (4): 417-427.

REYES, A.Y. (1968): The food habits of Draco volans Linnaeus. – Silliman J., 15: 353-356.

RUSSEL, A.P. & L.D. DIJKSTRA (2001): Patagial morphology of Draco volans (Reptilia: Agamidae) and the origin of glissant locomotion in flying dragons. - J. Zool., 253: 457-471.

The integrative patagial morphology of Draco volans was examined to elucidate the possible evolutionary pathway of origin of active patagia in the flying dragons and in extinct taxa that are thought to have possessed similarly constructed flight membranes. The area of the patagia and accessory aerodynamic surfaces is compared between Draco volans and Ptychozoon kuhli, a gekkonid with passive patagia. Comparisons of patagial area are also made between selected species of Draco. Scale architecture of the patagium of Draco is described and is related to pertinent aspects of the structure and properties of the integument. The relationships of these characteristics to the morphology of the ribs and their related musculature are emphasized. The overall assessment of these features in relation to patagial form is employed to develop an evolutionary scenario for the origin of active patagia.

TELFORD Jr., SD.R. (1995): Plasmodium spp. (Apicomplexa: Plasmodiidae) of the flying lizard Draco volans (Agamidae). – Systematic Parasitology, 31 (1): 53-60.