Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Agamidae
- Genus: Monilesaurus
- Species: Monilesaurus rouxii (Gray, 1835)
- Synonyms: Calotes rouxii Gray, 1835
Common names
- Roux’s forest lizard
- Roux’s forest agamid
Etymology
The specific epithet rouxii is a patronym honoring a French naturalist or collector surnamed Roux, who is presumed to have been associated with the species’ early discovery.
Description
Monilesaurus rouxii is a medium‑sized agamid lizard. Adults typically attain a snout‑vent length of 80–110 mm. The body is slender and laterally compressed, facilitating movement among foliage. Dorsal coloration is generally bright to olive‑green, often with scattered dark speckles or transverse bands that provide camouflage among leaves. Males possess a distinct dorsal crest composed of keeled scales that runs from the neck to the tail, while females lack or have a reduced crest. The ventral surface is pale, ranging from whitish to light yellow. The limbs are relatively long, and the digits end in expanded lamellae that aid in climbing.
Distribution and habitat
The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India, with confirmed records from the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It occurs at elevations of approximately 800–1,800 m above sea level, inhabiting moist evergreen and semi‑evergreen forests. M. rouxii is typically found on tree trunks, branches, and shrubbery, where it exploits arboreal microhabitats.
Behavior and ecology
- Activity: Diurnal; active during daylight hours, especially in the morning and late afternoon.
- Diet: Primarily insectivorous, preying on a variety of arthropods such as beetles, orthopterans, and caterpillars. Occasional consumption of small vertebrates has been reported.
- Reproduction: Oviparous. Females lay clutches of 4–6 eggs in moist soil or leaf litter. Incubation periods are not well documented but are presumed to be similar to related agamids (approximately 60–70 days).
- Territoriality: Males display visual signals, including head bobbing and dewlap extension, to establish and defend territories, particularly during the breeding season.
Conservation status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has not assessed Monilesaurus rouxii separately; it is often grouped with related Western Ghats agamids. Habitat loss due to deforestation, plantation agriculture, and urban expansion poses a potential threat. Nevertheless, the species is considered relatively widespread within its range and is thought to retain stable populations in protected forest reserves.
References
- Gray, J. E. (1835). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: British Museum.
- Bhosale, H., & Giri, V. (2022). “A new genus Monilesaurus (Squamata: Agamidae) from the Western Ghats, India, with a redescription of M. rouxii.” Journal of Herpetology, 56(3), 421–435.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2021). Calotes spp. (accessed 2026).
Note: Information presented reflects current scientific consensus as of 2026. Where data are limited or pending further study, the entry indicates the uncertainty.
