Description:
Scientific name: Hydrosaurus pustulatus
Life span: More than 30 years
The Hydrosaurus pustulatus, also known as the Philippine sailfin lizard, crested lizard, sail-fin lizard, soa-soa water lizard, or ibid in its native language, is an oviparous lizard. As a target for exotic pet collectors and in high demand in the global pet trade, the Philippine Sailfin Lizard is a protected species in its native Philippines. This is partly because these lizards have distinctive dorsal crests, also known as sailfins, which give the organism a structure resembling a sail. In addition, the Philippine Sailfin Lizard also possesses extremely eye-catching color patterns. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing these organisms among other lizards of the same genus in their habitat over the past few decades, the pustulatus species is unique within the Hydrosaurus genus. They are also excellent swimmers, and due to their physical makeup, tiny immature lizards may run on top of water.
Native Region/Habitat
Romblon, Guimaras, Negros, and Cebu are only a few of the islands in the Philippines where the Philippine sailfin lizard may be found, although Palawan Island is devoid of the lizard. Moreover, parts of eastern Indonesia and New Guinea are home to the lizard. The Philippine sailfin lizard is found in tropical, forested areas close to water, such as mangroves, rice fields, and riverbanks. In these settings, the Philippine sailfin lizard likewise resides in moderately high concentrations.
Behavior:
The Philippine sailfin lizard can hold its breath for up to 15 minutes and will either drop off the branch of the tree it is perched on, run, or swim to the bottom of the body of water it is nearest to in the presence of predators. Diurnal as well, Philippine sailfin lizards spend the most of the day basking in the sun in foliage. The lifespan of the Philippine sailfin lizard can range from 10 to 20 years, and it generally uses running to move about its habitats and away from or towards predators and competitors. The vestigial eye on the top of the lizard’s head, also known as the parietal or pineal eye and capable of detecting different sunlight ray angles, is thought to be used by the Philippine sailfin lizard to determine direction.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
In order to replicate their original environment, Philippine sailfin lizards are often kept in spacious cages with tropical-style warmth, semi-arboreal supplies, and access to submerging in water. Only a few instances of breeding in captivity have occurred, but this justification has also been used to smuggle Philippine sailfin lizards out of their natural environments for sale. The pet trade still exists in many places of the Philippines since it is widespread there, and in some cases it goes unacknowledged by the government. The Philippine sailfin lizards must be handled carefully since they are aggressive and can scratch people while in captivity. However, studies have shown that hand-feeding these lizards can help them relax and build trust.
Enclosure: Beginning with the enclosure A 30 to 50 gallon terrarium will suffice for smaller, younger lizards that measure 16 inches or less in length. As long as it’s safe and roomy, you can use any typical lizard aquarium.
Temperature and Humidity: The two main temperatures to aim for are as follows:
- To generate a hot region that is about 115 degrees Fahrenheit, adjust the basking light. Some lizards might like 120 degree basking areas!
- Ambient temperatures for the remainder of the enclosure must range from 80 to 90 degrees.
For sailfin dragons, hot and muggy weather is crucial! You need to replicate the humidity that they are used to from their native surroundings in their habitat. The enclosure’s humidity should be between 75 and 80 percent at all times.
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