Otocryptis wiegmanni
# Otocryptis wiegmanni

Otocryptis wiegmanni, commonly called the brown-patched kangaroo lizard, Sri Lankan kangaroo lizard or Wiegmann's agama, is a small, ground-dwelling agamid lizard endemic to Sri Lanka.

## Etymology

The specific name, wiegmanni, is in honour of German herpetologist Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann.

## Habitat

The preferred habitat of O. wiegmanni is the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests (rainfall >2000 mm), up to 1,300 m (4,300 ft), of Sri Lanka. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter of shady rain forests.

## Defensive behaviour

When perceiving danger, O. wiegmanni spurts away quickly on its large hind legs and might eventually climb up a sapling or tree.

## Diet

O. wiegmanni feeds on small insects, grubs, and tender shoots.

## Taxonomy

O. wiegmanni is closely related to the Indian kangaroo lizard (O. beddomii ) of the rain forests of South India.

## Description

O. wiegmanni may grow to an adult body size of about 7 cm (2.8 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL), plus a tail 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Its colour ranges from dark reddish brown to dull brown. Males are darker than females. Males have a maroon patch on their gular sac.

## Reproduction

Male O. wiegmanni are territorial and can defend their territory against intruders through displays and fights. Females lay between three and five eggs in a nest in the ground between July and January, with a peak between October and January. The eggs are ellipsoidal, measuring 7 mm–7.5 mm × 10 mm–17 mm (0.28 in–0.30 in × 0.39 in–0.67 in). Hatchlings emerge after 57–70 days.

