Chinese Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus): habitat and range

Fun facts

As a defence it can submerge and stay underwater for long spells to escape predators.
It eats insects, small vertebrates and occasionally plant matter.
Its tail makes up as much as 70% of its total length.
fisiologíaIt can stay submerged for long spells to avoid predators, slowing its heart rate while it lies still on the bottom.

Life cycle and biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat and environment: Tropical forest and country near streams and rivers of southern China and mainland South-East Asia
Birth weight: Weight at hatching not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: The young well developed and independent on hatching
Sexual maturity: 2-5 years (3 years most commonly given, from 40 cm in length)
Gestation / incubation: 60-90 days
Litter / clutch size: 6 to 18 eggs per clutch
Life expectancy in captivity: Documented record of up to 20 years in captivity

Sources consulted: PetMD · LafeberVet · Animalia.bio · ReptiFiles Care Sheet · Reptile Training · AnAge (genomics.senescence.info) · Wikipedia (Chinese water dragon) · PMC (parthenogenesis study)

Where to find it

Best time: All year round in South-East Asia, by day, on branches overhanging forest streams and rivers.

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The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.

Where to see it

Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 12.

Related species

Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Chinese Water Dragon — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.

Same taxonomic family

Shares a park

How to help

The chinese water dragon is classified as vulnerable. Organisations such as the IUCN, WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programmes is a good starting point if you want to get involved.

It's documented in 8 protected areas — one reason why protecting these places matters for its conservation.

Keep exploring

Based on what we already know about chinese water dragon.

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