Green Crested Lizard

DUE to its ability to change colour the relatively common Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) is often mistakenly called a chameleon by many. I’ve even seen a photo of it so labelled in a display in one of our state parks! Also by the same virtue of its seemingly magical ability, many Borneons, being a superstitious lot, unfortunately believe that this shy lizard is highly venomous and so should be killed on sight or at least avoided.

Of course, myth and mistaken identity aside, this is a perfectly harmless insect-eating lizard that is not closely related to the true chameleons of Africa.

I found this young specimen in the process of shedding its old skin along a forest road.