Taiwan Japalure
Diploderma swinhonis
📍 Shoushan Nature Park, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
You’ll commonly spot a few lizard species across Taiwan — forest and sun skinks slink between the ground leaf litter and house geckos stick to windows and walls. You’ll likely find the Taiwan japalure, the most common lizard in the country, clinging to a tree trunk or branch.
Also known as Swinhoe's tree lizard, this species ranges across Taiwan at low altitudes, below 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), and is found as an invasive in Japan.
Its appearance can vary, depending on if you’ve found a male or female. A female is smaller, with less pronounced patterns and a more cylindrical body. A male is larger — large size providing an advantage in territorial competition with other males — with light streaks across his laterally.
📍 Most of Taiwan excepting the elevated interior.
⛰️ Lowland forests.
‘Least Concern’ as of 08 May, 2018.
