Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Bold and beautiful flaunts

Female Fan throated Lizard! Fan-throated lizard (Sitana ponticeriana) is a species of agamid lizard found in eastern peninsular India. During the breeding season, males develop tri-coloured gular appendage. The males flaunt evolutionary throat flap to attract the females. But they also puff their throats and display dewlap to drive other males off their territory. It is thought that probably the colours are there for a reason. Orange, blue and black could express different emotions and signals. Orange could be to attract the female while blue and black for displaying territorial aggression between males. It is very much possible that whenever you spot a colourful lizard in your garden, you would think about the potential message in it!

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2020
Date Uploaded: 09.2020
Photo Location: hubli, , karnataka state, India
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Copyright: © chandrashekhar shirur