Draco volans

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title: "Draco volans" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["draco-(genus)", "reptiles-of-the-philippines", "reptiles-of-indonesia", "reptiles-described-in-1758", "animal-taxa-named-by-carl-linnaeus"] description: "Species of reptile" topic_path: "geography/philippines" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draco_volans" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of reptile ::

| image = Draco volans 01.JPG | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | taxon = Draco volans | authority = Linnaeus, 1758 ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Flying_lizard_(Draco_volans)_male.jpg" caption="Male"] ::

Draco volans also commonly known as the common flying dragon, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Asia.

The species is exclusively arboreal.

Description

D. volans grows to a length of up to 22 cm, including the tail. The body is tan in colour with dark flecks.

The patagium of the male is tan to bright orange with dark banding. The female's patagium has irregular markings rather than banding.

Habitat

D. volans can be found in tropical rainforests in Southeast Asia. It is commonly found in early second growth forests, in open secondary forest, and on forest edges.

Locomotion

The "wings" of D. volans are supported by its ribs, which form the skeleton of the patagia. However, its elongated ribs are superadded to aid forming its "wings", and not to assist respiration.

This species is considered a passive glider, or parachutist. However, previous studies have also shown that it can be considered a gliding animal. This means that it does not have to deal with the aerodynamic and metabolic imperatives required for active flight.

Behaviour

D. volans is diurnal, and is "commonly seen running along branches, displaying, and gliding".

Courtship

The colouration of the patagia and the dewlap play key roles in the courtship of D. volans, with the males stretching out and displaying their patagia and dewlaps to get the attention of the females.

Diet

Draco volans feeds mainly on ants, and possibly other insects like termites. A study was conducted in Eastern Mindanao, Philippines, which found that the species exclusively feeds on ants. It hunts by waiting near a tree trunk until ants come out and crawl close to its visual field; it grabs its prey without moving itself.

Reproduction

The female common flying dragon digs a hole in the soil to serve as a nest, and lays eggs in it.

References

References

1. Quah, E.. (2018). "''Draco volans ''".
2. {{EMBL species
3. Van Arsdale, Michael. (1999). "''Draco volans ''".
4. Crew, Bec. (29 May 2014). "Flying dragon lizard a true gliding reptile".
5. Smith, Brian E.. (December 1993). "Notes on a Collection of Squamate Reptiles from Eastern Mindanao, Philippine Islands Part 1: Lacertilia". Asiatic Herpetological Research.
6. Baker, Nick. (). "''Draco volans ''".
7. Home, Everard. (1812). "Observations Intended to Show That the Progressive Motion of Snakes is Partly Performed by means of the Ribs". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
8. Maina, John N.. (11 July 2006). "Development, structure, and function of a novel respiratory organ, the lung-air sac system of birds: to go where no other vertebrate has gone". Biological Reviews.
9. Colbert, Edwin H.. (10 March 1967). "Adaptations for Gliding in the Lizard ''Draco ''". American Museum Novitates.
10. Maina, John N.. (3 July 2015). "The design of the avian respiratory system: development, morphology and function". Journal of Ornithology.

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