# Draco Lizard (*Draco volans*) The Draco Lizard, also known as the Flying Dragon, has special wings that allow it to glide from tree to tree. It's a master of the treetops, blending in with its surroundings. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Forest - **Also known as:** Draco, Flying Dragon ![Draco Lizard](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426161/objects/6052.jpg) ## Appearance The Draco Lizard has an elongated, flattened body, typically olive-green or brown, with distinctive, brightly colored 'wings' (patagia) that fold up like a fan when not in use. Males often have a vivid yellow or orange dewlap, while females have a smaller blue or grey one. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Agamidae - **Genus:** Draco ## Interesting facts - Draco lizards use their tails to steer while gliding through the forest air! - Female Draco lizards dig nests in soft soil to protect their precious eggs. - Some 'flying dragon' species have bright blue, red, or yellow underwings! - They can flatten their bodies to become more aerodynamic for flight! ## Special abilities - **Sky Surfer Gliding:** Draco Lizard can glide between trees because of large skin flaps stretched over elongated ribs that help them escape predators and find mates. - **Camouflage Master:** Draco Lizard has excellent camouflage that helps them blend perfectly with tree bark, making them almost invisible to predators and prey. - **Colorful Communicator:** Draco Lizard can flash its vibrant dewlap and wing colors because of specialized skin pigments that help them attract mates and defend territory. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 19-23 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.015 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-5 years - **Speed:** 5 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 30-35 days ## Diet & Feeding Tiny tree-dwelling insect-eaters, they snack mostly on ants and termites found on tree bark. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Termites, Small beetles, Crickets - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Weaver Ant (*Oecophylla smaragdina*) — Consumes these ants from tree trunks. - **Eats:** Common Termite (*Macrotermes gilvus*) — Feeds on termite colonies found on tree bark. - **Eaten by:** Ornate Flying Snake (*Chrysopelea ornata*) — A primary predator that hunts in the trees. - **Eaten by:** Changeable Hawk-Eagle (*Spizaetus cirrhatus*) — Bird of prey snatching them from canopy. ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Observe from a safe distance and never try to catch or handle wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Draco Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Draco Lizard? 19-23 cm ### How much does Draco Lizard weigh? 0.005-0.015 kg ### How long does Draco Lizard live? 2-5 years ### How fast can Draco Lizard move? 5 km/h ### What does Draco Lizard eat? Tiny tree-dwelling insect-eaters, they snack mostly on ants and termites found on tree bark. ### Where is Draco Lizard usually found? Forest ### How does Draco Lizard hunt? Foraging ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Draco Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/draco-lizard)