DRACO 107 



Genus DRACO Linnaeus 



Draco Linn^us, Syst. Nat. 1 (1758) 358; Boulenger, Cat. Liz. Brit. 



Mus. 1 (1885) 253. 

 Dracunculus Wiegmann, Herp. Mex. (1834) 14. 

 Rhacodracon Fitzinger, Neue Class. Kept. (1826) 50. 

 Pterosaurus Fitzinger, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 51. 

 Pteropterus Fitzinger, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 51. 

 Dracontoidis Fitzinger, Neue Class. Rept. (1826) 51. 

 Dracocella Gray, Cat. Liz.. (1845) 234. 



Body depressed, elongate, with long slender tail. Large lateral 

 winglike membranes, supported by extensively elongated ribs, 

 folding down like a fan. The male has a gular appendage and 

 small skin flaps on each side of head; the gular appendage is 

 largely wanting in the females. Tympanum distinct or covered. 

 No preanal or femoral pores. 



The Philippines are rich in species of this genus, eleven being 

 recognized. Many of the Philippine peoples believe they are 

 deadly poisonous, which of course is not the case. They are 

 known under various native names; such as, alap-d-pan (Bicol), 

 tabili-pdghan (Misamis Visayan), amodzjdka (Manobo), hunia- 

 'itgo (Tagalog), bocaboca (Moro). The young are reproduced 

 from eggs which are deposited in trees, usually about aerial 

 plants or in the axils of the leaves of certain trees. The adults 

 are exceedingly agile and difficult to capture. Males and females 

 usually vary greatly in color and markings ; exceptions are found 

 in Draco volans and D. ornatus, in which species the sexes differ 

 but little. The differences appear very great in D. rizali, D qua- 

 drasi, D. spilopterus, and D, mindanensis. 



Dracos are unable to rise from the ground, and must take 

 flight from some higher point. Their method of flight is to 

 spread the wing membranes and sail. They do not move the 

 wings up and down like a bird or bat. They feed largely on 

 ants and other small insects. Like many other species of the 

 Agamidse and Iguanidse they readily change color. 



Key to the Philippine species of Draco Linnaeus. 



a\ Nostril lateral, directed outward, sometimes slightly upward and back- 

 ward. 

 h^. Adpressed hind leg reaches at the utmost slightly beyond elbow of 

 adpressed foreleg; tympanum distinct; a Y-shaped series of scales 

 on forehead. 

 c\ No orbital spines; a prominent scale on posterior part of super- 

 ciliary region sometimes present, 

 tf. Snout as long as diameter of orbit; tympanum smaller than eye 

 opening. 



