Water dragons
| Water dragons | ||||||||||||
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Green water dragon ( Physignathus cocincinus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Physignathus | ||||||||||||
| Cuvier , 1829 |
The Water Dragons ( Physignathus ) or water dragons are a lizard species from the family of Agamas (Agamidae), which with only one kind in Southeast Asia lives and the Indoaustralischen archipelago. The genus used to include up to four species.
Water dragons reach a maximum length of 90 centimeters to one meter, with the tail making up two thirds of the length. A serrated crest runs from the back of the head down the back and in most cases continues on the tail. The animals are green or gray in color. The head, jaw and teeth are strong. A throat pouch is missing, there is a clearly pronounced throat fold.
Systematics
The genus currently includes only one species:
- Green water dragon ( Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier , 1829 )
Three species formerly assigned to the genus Physignathus have been transferred to other genera:
- The Gilberts water dragon , formerly Physignathus gilberti ( Gray , 1842) , is now listed as Lophognathus gilberti Gray , 1842 and thus assigned to the genus Lophognathus .
- The Australian water dragon , formerly Physignathus lesueurii ( Gray , 1831) , is now listed as Intellagama lesueurii ( Gray , 1831) and forms the monotypical genus Intellagama .
- The striped water dragon , formerly Physignathus temporalis ( Günther , 1867) , is now listed as Gowidon temporalis ( Günther , 1867) and thus assigned to the genus Gowidon .
literature
- Manfred Rogner : Lizards. Volume 1: geckos, pinnipeds, agamas, chameleons and iguanas. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-8001-7248-8 .
