Филиппинский парусный варан: описание и особенности вида.

Species of lizard
Speciesbox
| image = Philippine Sailfin Dragon. jpg
| image caption = Wild Philippine sailfin lizard in Leyte
| status = LC
| status system = IUCN3.1
| status ref = Like other sailfin lizards, they are characterized by large sail like dorsal crests on their tails. They can grow to a maximum length of around They are strong swimmers, and smaller juvenile lizards can run briefly on the water surface. They inhabit areas of heavy vegetation near coastlines and low lying rivers, particularly in mangrove forests. They are also known locally as layagan or balubid in Tagalog and ibid in the Visayan languages, among other names. H. pustulatus is a protected species in the Philippines, as it is a target for the international exotic pet trade for their unique dorsal crests and bright coloration. It is one of five species currently recognized under the genus Hydrosaurus, the sailfin dragons, and the only species found in the Philippines (the other species are native to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea). Hydrosaurus pustulatus is highly variable in terms of coloration and scale patterns across geographic populations. A genetic study in 2014 has discovered that H. pustulatus is divided into six distinct genetic clusters. The most divergent of the group are the populations in Aurora, Luzon and the Polillo Islands. The Philippine sailfin lizard lives in tropical wooded habitats near water, like rivers, riverbanks, rice fields and mangrove.

Philippine sailfin lizards are large and usually grow to a length between two and three feet, including its tail, but males are larger than females and can grow up to between 3 and 4 feet long (91 120 centimeters). Additionally, this species of lizard has a unique characteristic being its crest or sailfin, which is an upright part of its body that occurs from the base of the tail to the lower area of the back. This crest or sailfin is used not only to help with its ability to swim efficiently in water, but is also thought to assist with the lizard's ability to do territorial displays and heat/cool in different environments. The adult Philippine sailfin lizard does not usually retain a smaller mass and loses the ability to run across water, but it uses these flattened toes to swim very effectively. The flattened toes also have scale fringes that can be used for swimming and running on top of water as mentioned before. Males have a larger crest on their back than the females. The males also have bigger heads, taller sails on their tails, and darker limbs. During mating season, the head of the Philippine sailfin lizard becomes violet while only the neck area of a female's crest can become violet. Their diet is easy to replicate, which is why they are a target for exotic pet collectors, but they're not as docile compared to other lizards. As a result, the lizard cannot primarily be a carnivore since its teeth were not designed to do so.

In terms of keeping a Philippine sailfin lizard in captivity, they are typically kept in large enclosures with tropical styled heating, semi arboreal resources, access to submerging in water to mimic their natural environment. Breeding in captivity has only been done in a few cases, but this explanation has also been used as a method of smuggling the Philippine sailfin lizards out of their native habitats for sale. Since it is common in many parts of the Philippines, the pet trade in many regions still continues and some are even unrecognized by the government. It's also important to note that the Philippine sailfin lizards are to be approached with caution when held captive as they are extremely nervous and can scratch people, but studies have shown that hand feeding these lizards helps them become less nervous and gain trust.