Animal Camouflage: Gliding Lizard

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gliding lizard, flying dragon, lizard camouflage, draco lizard, reptiles in the rainforest
Gliding lizards utilize camouflage to avoid predator.

To avoid predation, many reptiles in the rainforest including gliding lizard (also called Draco lizard or flying dragon) take advantage of camouflage as shown in the photo above. Its body colour mixed very well with the tree bark.  The irregular blotches on its body also blended with the variable colours and patterns of the surrounding thus producing an effective camouflage. If it did not raise its head but instead place it on the vertical trunk with its tail extended, it would almost certainly be unnoticed.

In addition to camouflage, gliding lizard also relies on speed to flee from potential predator. It can scurry up tree trunk, and then stays motionless to minimize detection. Remarkably, gliding lizard, as its name implies, can escape predator by making a steep glide, then maneuver itself for some distance  before landing on a another tree, using its claw to cling on tree trunk.

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