Lizards are one of the most common types of animals found in the Philippines.
And there are hundreds of species living in different places all over the country.
This list will help you get familiar with all the types of lizards in the Philippines and understand their unique characteristics and behaviors.
Meanwhile, In this guide, we will talk about some of the bigger ones, like geckos, iguanas, basilisks, and monitors.
As well as the smaller ones like chameleons and skinks, or even the rare kinds like flying dragons!
1. Gecko
These are small and slender lizards that range from green to brown.
They live anywhere from one to five years, with the females laying two clutches of eggs a year on average.
In addition, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, deforestation, and human use, such as in chicken farms.
One population has been thriving in Manila, and this is because they have been spotted eating cockroaches and other insects attracted by electric lights around buildings at night.
2. Skink
The Skink is one of the types of lizards in the Philippines. It has a slim body, short legs, and a long tail with distinctive patterns on its back.
Other reptiles that are native to the country include those found on land: snakes, monitor lizards, iguanas, and the cobra, as well as those who are associated with water: sea turtles, monitor lizards, and crocodiles.
All these options are available to them during their stay in the country. Tourists worldwide should have no problem finding a reptile to be their new companion or friend.
3. The Monitor
The monitor lizard is on the list of types of lizards in the Philippines and is often called the king of Philippine forests.
One has been recorded measuring six feet, four inches long and one foot, five inches wide.
Meanwhile, they are often seen near streams or eating fruit by knocking it from branches with a whip-like motion of their neck and seizing it between their strong jaws.
The northern agama lizard is generally smaller and lives in a less dense forest habitat than its cousin, the monitor lizard.
In contrast to the glossy scales on most lizards, agamas have rough, warty patches that make them difficult for predators to handle.
This rough skin protects them from everything. It slows pythons that may coil around them and crush them to death before they get a chance to break free.
4. Anole
The anole is a lizard found in the Philippines and many parts of the world. They are easy to identify as they look like tiny green amphibians or baby dragons.
With patches on their skin that change color based on their surroundings. Meanwhile, Some varieties live in trees while others live closer to water.
Male anoles often have larger heads and wider bodies than females, which gives them advantages during the mating season, when males compete for female attention by chasing one another around leaves and branches.
The anole is one of the types of lizards in the Philippines. They adapted perfectly to live around humans and blend into their environment without being noticed.
5. The Legless Lizard
Legless lizards are one of the unusual types of lizards in the Philippines and have a particular location and habitat.
They are only located on three islands: Palawan, Romblon, and Leyte. Unlike many other types of lizards in the Philippines, these are nocturnal ground dwellers.Â
Though they do have 4 legs, they do not use them for walking or any other type of locomotion. Instead, they depend solely on their tails to move around.
It is assumed that this adaptation helps them live happily with snakes that inhabit the same regions as these little creatures.
6. Sailfin Lizard
The sailfin lizard is a giant, stocky lizard with a broad head and long tail, and the males are typically more significant than the females.
Sailfin lizards are well-adapted to life on land because they have evolved large lungs and rigid, calloused feet.
They feed on small mammals birds, reptiles, and insects. Sailfin lizards hunt by sitting still until their prey comes close enough to ambush it by lunging out at them.
Meanwhile, it lives in the Philippines, the Bicol region, Maasin City, and Laguna de Bay provinces; agama: Agamas are slender lizards that live primarily on trees. Their skin color ranges from brown to greenish brown.
7. Draco Lizard
The Draco lizard is a carnivorous lizard mainly found in forested areas. They have long-toothed snouts, which they use to catch smaller animals like rodents and insects.
They are most active during the day but do not prefer bright daylight. Instead, they are most active just before dusk and at night.
This is one of the types of lizards in the Philippines, also known as a collar or tailed dragon, because they have a long slender tail with few scales and no hand webbing.
8. Agamids
Agamids are types of lizards in the Philippines and are commonly found on trees. Agamids have a green or red back with light to dark brown or black spots.
Also, their heads are narrow with an upturned snout that is often brightly colored, and their legs have long toes for climbing trees.
Agamids don’t have claws but instead end up gripping tree branches with claw-like toes. So be careful when picking these fellows up!
