Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Sri Lankan Kngaroo Lizard - Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard photographed in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard - Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

I hadn't photographed a Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard until our recent trip to Sinharaja. Surprisingly, they were relatively easy to approach and photograph and there were a number of them in the leaf litter along the walking tracks in the park.

More photographs inside.

A Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard photographed in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard - Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard is an endemic, ground dwelling agamid Lizard that is found in the wet zone of the island (up to an elevation of 1300m). Its diet consists of insects, tender shoots and larvae. It is said to lay 4-5 eggs which take around 60-70 days to hatch. When startled, the Lizard may rise up and run its hind legs.

A Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard photographed in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard - Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

Photographing the lizard wasn't hard. I found a number of specimens in the leaf litter or perched on the rocks by the side of the road. Although they were alert, they didn't run away as I approached them. The quality of light in the area wasn't good as it was filtered through a thick canopy overhead. Shutter speeds for these photographs were around the 1/40th mark.

A Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard photographed in Sinharaja, Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard - Sinharaja, Sri Lanka

All photographs on this post were taken with a Canon 7D and the 100-400mm lens. A tripod was not used.

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