Hydrosaurus | |
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Hydrosaurus amboinensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Iguania |
Family: | Agamidae |
Subfamily: |
Hydrosaurinae Kaup, 1828 |
Genus: |
Hydrosaurus Kaup, 1828 [1] |
Type species | |
Hydrosaurus amboinensis | |
Species | |
Synonyms | |
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Hydrosaurus, commonly known as the sailfin dragons or sailfin lizards, is a genus in the family Agamidae. [2] These relatively large lizards are named after the sail-like structure on their tails. They are native to Indonesia (4 species) and the Philippines (1 species) where they are generally found near water, such as rivers and mangrove. [3] Sailfin lizards are semiaquatic and able to run short distances across water using both their feet and tail for support, similar to the basilisks. [4] They are threatened by both habitat loss and overcollection for the wild animal trade. [3]
In the 19th century, the genus was called Lophura, however in 1903 Poche pointed out that the name was pre-occupied by a genus of pheasants. [5] Since Günther in 1873, the Sulawesi populations were considered to belong to H. amboinensis; Denzer et al. in 2020 resurrected H. celebensis and H. microlophus, increasing the number of species from three to five. [5]
They are the only members of the subfamily Hydrosaurinae.
There are currently five valid species according to the Reptile Database, [2] [3] [5]
Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
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Hydrosaurus amboinensis (Schlosser, 1768) | Moluccan sailfin lizard or Amboina sail-finned lizard, soa-soa water lizard | Western New Guinea, Ambon/Amboina Island and Ceram Island (Indonesia) | |
Hydrosaurus celebensis (Peters, 1872) | Sulawesi black sailfin lizard | Indonesia (Sulawesi) | |
Hydrosaurus microlophus (Bleeker, 1860) | Indonesian giant sailfin dragon,
Makassar sailfin lizard, or Sulawesi giant sailfin dragon |
Indonesia (Sulawesi) | |
Hydrosaurus pustulatus (Eschsholtz, 1829) | Philippine sailfin lizard, layagan, balubid, or ibid [6] [7] | Philippine archipelago (except Palawan) [8] | |
Hydrosaurus weberi Barbour, 1911 | Weber's sailfin lizard | Ternate Island, North Maluku (Indonesia)
Halmahera Island, North Maluku (Indonesia) |