Leaf-nosed Lizard - Sri Lanka


The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa, centered in the city Polonnaruwa, experienced a golden age during the reign of Parakramabahu the Great, 1153 to 1186. Known for his many construction projects and skills as a military leader, he consolidated the three lesser kingdoms on the island of Sri Lanka into one powerful state.

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Certophora tennentii - The leaf-nosed lizard is an arboreal reptile endemic to Sri Lank and specifically to the Knuckles Mountains of Central Sri Lanka. Including the tail, the leaf-nose averages about 18 centimeters in length; females are smaller. The rostal appendage, a leaf shaped projectile at the end of the snout, is used for sifting through debris when searching for insects. The male leaf-nosed lizard has a vivid green coloration; the females are slightly paler. Both sexes can change colors to camouflage themselves against predators.