(Philippine) Sailfin Lizard Hydrosaurus pustulatus

The Philippine Sail-finned Lizard, usually abbreviated to Sailfin Lizard or Sailfin Dragon, is endemic to the Philippines and lives by rivers and waterbodies. The full name is used to differentiate from the similar Moluccan/Amboina Sail-finned and other Hydrosaurus species.

As its Latin name indicates, it is often in water and it has modified back toes to enable it to run on water (using 2 legs and its tail like a basilisk).

The sail fin is an extendable fin on its tail which facilitates swimming.

If danger threatens, it drops into the water and can stay submerged for up to an hour.

The male lizard, which can grow to a length of over a metre, is more colourful than the female and develops blue/violet colouring as it ages.