SCIENTIFIC NAME: Physignathus cocincinus

Chinese water dragons are native to the forests of India, northern and southern China, and eastern and southeastern Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma).  Chinese water dragons are most commonly found along the banks of freshwater lakes and streams. They are active during the day and spend most of their time among the trees or plants.  The Chinese water dragon can remain submerged in water for up to 25 minutes.  If threatened, the dragon will drop from the trees or plants into the water and either swim to safety or remain under water.  Chinese water dragons can grow up to 3 ft in length and range in color from dark to light green.  Brilliant coloring can be found on the water dragon as it has diagonal stripes of green or turquoise along its body, and its tail is banded from the middle to the end with green and dark brown.  The Chinese water dragon has an attractive, colorful throat typically yellow, orange, or peach.  Adult males have larger, more triangular heads than females, and develop larger crests on the head, neck and tail.  Almost 70% of this animal’s length is its tail which may be used for balance, swimming, leverage when climbing and as a weapon to whip potential predators. A very small, round, shiny spot located at the top of the head, between its eyes, is known as the pineal body or the third eye.  This spot is thought to help them sense differences in light and thus, temperatures.