| Soa-Soa Water Lizard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Aliases | Native Name: Ibid Local Name: Bayagbag Crested Lizard, Philippine Sailfin Lizard, Sail-fin Lizard, Sailfin Water Lizard | ||
| Classification | Hydrosaurus pustulatus | ||
| Species type | Dragon Lizard | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Environment | Mangroves, rice fields, rivers and riverbanks | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Discovered | 1828 | ||
| Discoverer | Johann Jakob von Kaup | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Reproduction | Sexual; lays eggs | ||
| Average length | 1m (3' 3.37") | ||
| Locomotion | Quadrupedal walking | ||
| Feeding behavior | Omnivorous | ||
| Prey | Flowers, fruit, leaves; insects, small animals | ||
| Distinctive features | Large sail on his tail | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Related species | Amboina Sailfin Lizard, Hydrosaurus celebensis, Hydrosaurus microlophus, Weber's Sailfin Lizard | ||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | True Neutral | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia (Animals) | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria (Animals with bilateral symmetry) | ||
| Superphylum | Deuterostomia (Blastophore becomes anus) | ||
| Phylum | Chordata (Chordates) | ||
| Subphylum | Vertebrata (Vertebrates) | ||
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata (Jawed vertebrates) | ||
| Superclass | Tetrapoda (Animals with four limbs) | ||
| Class | Reptilia (Reptiles) | ||
| Subclass | Diapsida (Diapsids -- two holes in the sides of the skull) | ||
| Infraclass | Sauria (Saurians) | ||
| Superorder | Lepidosauria (Reptiles with overlapping scales) | ||
| Order | Squamata (Amphisbaenians, lizards, and snakes) | ||
| Suborder | Iguania (Iguanians) | ||
| Infraorder | Chamaeleontiformes (Species more closely related to the Common Chameleon than the Bush Lizard, Green Iguana, or Weapontail) | ||
| Superfamily | Acrodonta (Chameleons & Dragon Lizards) | ||
| Family | Agamidae (Dragon Lizards) | ||
| Subfamily | Hydrosaurinae | ||
| Genus | Hydrosaurus | ||
| Species | H. pustulatus | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Vulnerable | ||
The Soa-Soa Water Lizard, or Philippine sailfin lizard, (Hydrosaurus pustulatus) is a species of oviparous lizard endemic to Philippines.
Physiology and behavior[]
Soa-Soas are fairly large lizards, growing up to a meter (3' 3.37") in length. They are excellent swimmers but are able to run across water in a similar manner to Basilisk Lizards thanks to flattened toes.
They display sexual dimorphism with males possessing a larger crest than females. Males will also gain a shade of violet as they age; females will remain less colorful.
Habitat[]
Soa-Soas can be found in tropical wooded habitats close to bodies of water such as mangroves, rice fields, rivers and riverbanks. Unfortunately they are often confused for their relative, the Amboina Sailfin Lizard. This means that it has become uncertain their exact distribution.
The habitat of the Soa-Soa.