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.
The specific name, wiegmanni, is in honour of German herpetologist Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann.[1]
The preferred habitat of O. wiegmanni is the wet zone forests and lower mountain forests (rainfall >2000 mm), up to 1300m (4,300feet), of Sri Lanka. It is commonly seen in the leaf litter of shady rain forests.
When perceiving danger, O. wiegmanni spurts away quickly on its large hind legs and might eventually climb up a sapling or tree.
O. wiegmanni feeds on small insects, grubs, and tender shoots.[2] [3]
O. wiegmanni is closely related to the Indian kangaroo lizard (O. beddomii) of the rain forests of South India.
O. wiegmanni may grow to an adult body size of about 7cm (03inches) snout-to-vent length (SVL), plus a tail 15cm (06inches) long. Its colour ranges from dark reddish brown to dull brown. Males are darker than females.[2] [3] Males have a maroon patch on their gular sac.
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.[2] [3] The eggs are ellipsoidal, measuring 7-. Hatchlings emerge after 57–70 days.
