Fifth Grade
Worksheets
Draco Lizards
Draco lizards are unusual lizards that live in trees. They inhabit the jungles and rainforests in Southeast Asia, Borneo, and the Philippines.
The Draco lizard has special adaptations that enable it to "fly" or glide. The lizard has a set of ribs that can be stretched to a longer length. The lizard can also draw the ribs back in. Between the ribs are flaps of skin. These flaps of skin are the "wings" of the lizard. The lizard spreads out the flaps and glides from tree to tree. The lizard uses its long tail to guide itself. How far the lizard flies is determined by how high up in a tree the lizard is when it spreads its wings. It's possible for the Draco lizard to travel 30 feet at a time by gliding.
The average Draco lizard is eight inches long from the tip of its pointed snout to the end of its tail. Its body is flat. The Draco lizard usually blends in with its surroundings. The main part of its body is covered with brown splotches. The undersides of the wings of the male lizard are blue. The female's undersides are yellow. The Draco lizard also has a flap of skin at the bottom of its neck. This flap of skin is called a dewlap. The male's dewlap is bright yellow. The female's dewlap is a blue-gray color.
