The long-tailed grass lizard (បង្គួយកន្ទុយវែង)d is an eye-catching reptile with an interesting appearance that you can easily notice. While the population of these lizards is unsure elsewhere, their numbers are doing okay in Cambodia. Not many people know that we actually have this beautiful lizard in the country. I’d say many girls would scream seeing one of these, but coming across is not too common either. Feel free to check out some basic information about long-tailed grass lizards below.
Appearance
A long-tailed grass lizard has an acute, high, and long head; at a glance, resembles a small snake almost. As for the body, it has large rectangular scales that are keeled. This species has different body colorations but is generally brown with up to 6 rows of pale yellowish stripes. The part that you can easily notice on the body is an enlarged row of dorsal scales. These scales run along the back and each side of the body of the lizard. At the same time, they have long and thin digits that allow them to run very fast.
True to its name, a long-tailed grass lizard has a very long tail. The remarkable length of the tail is up to 3 times the length of the rest of its body. This long tail is stout and round in section, and it is covered in large scales. Along with that, this tail also helps secure and balance them as they climb through blades of grass. Just like other lizard species, this long tail will regrow when it detaches the tail during an emergency.
Behavior
The myth about them because of their long tails says that they have deadly bites and are very venomous. These lizards are such sweethearts and they always run away from humans. They rarely bite, and if they do, it is only for self-defense. The bite from a long-tailed grass lizard is neither dangerous nor painful. Personality-wise, long-tailed grass lizards are not territorial so it is common to see them in one area together.
Habitats & Habits
This species is endemic to Southeast Asian countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In those countries, these long-tailed lizards usually live in bamboo fields, grasslands, some forests, and swamps. However, there are times when people see them around or in their houses. I have seen Facebook posts about people who found them and posted their photos asking what they are. Mainly, because their appearance is so unfamiliar to many people since that long tail is not a common thing. Some even asked if that’s a hybrid between lizards and snakes while some said this unique-looking lizard brings them luck.
Long-tailed grass lizards actively search for small arthropods and small insects, the main meals in their diet. Early in the morning, they will emerge to bask in the sun. During the day time, it is common to see them “floating” along the thick grasses tips looking for food. They are mostly seen in grasslands that receive regular seasonal rains or grasslands that are near-standing forests. When the night falls, they typically coil around or crawl into the bases of the long grasses.
Pets
Long-tailed grass lizards are very common in the pet trade because of their unique long tails. Reptile enthusiasts house them in large terraria with anoles and house geckos. In captivity, they usually feed on crickets as well as mealworms, sterile maggots, and wax worms as a calcium substitute. Long-tailed grass lizards can be tamed to sit on the hand but they can get sick when stressed.
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