<p>Known as Othi, Othikyata, Tonneketa, Girgut, Hentegodda, Oosaravalli and Gosumbe in Kannada, the lizard (scientific name; Lacerta Cristata) is found abundantly in Shidlaghatta taluk. <br /><br />The sheer number of names is a testimony to the creature’s adaption of surroundings. They are commonly found in dry, arid, thorny forest, rocky and hilly vegetation. The lizards come in various colours and often in blend of colours. Interestingly, they can only be identified when in movement.<br />The lizards which belong to the reptile family existed 200 million years before the birds and mammals.<br />Though the dinosaurs went extinct during the Cretaceaus period, the lizards continue to exist till today due to their marvellous adaptability.<br />One of the major factors which ensured the survival of the species is they are cold-blooded. The animals absorb the required heat from their surroundings. Further, the scales on the lizard’s body prevents loss of moisture, reducing its dependability on water. Hence, they are found even in some of the harsh conditions where the food and water is scarce, says teacher Venkat Reddy. The lizards mainly prey on ants, termites, small birds, frogs, butterflies, spiders, rats, geckos and other small animals. Like snakes, lizards shed skin as they grow. They use their teeth to attack and kill their prey. The lizards swallow their food completely.<br />The male among the lizards is bigger than female and breed between May and October. <br />The female digs a hole in the soft soil and lays 10 to 20 eggs and covers them with soil. <br /><br />The eggs thus laid hatch in six to seven weeks.<br />The lizard is an important part of the food chain as it maintains the ecological balance by eating many insects and also by being prey to other big reptiles and animals.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Known as Othi, Othikyata, Tonneketa, Girgut, Hentegodda, Oosaravalli and Gosumbe in Kannada, the lizard (scientific name; Lacerta Cristata) is found abundantly in Shidlaghatta taluk. <br /><br />The sheer number of names is a testimony to the creature’s adaption of surroundings. They are commonly found in dry, arid, thorny forest, rocky and hilly vegetation. The lizards come in various colours and often in blend of colours. Interestingly, they can only be identified when in movement.<br />The lizards which belong to the reptile family existed 200 million years before the birds and mammals.<br />Though the dinosaurs went extinct during the Cretaceaus period, the lizards continue to exist till today due to their marvellous adaptability.<br />One of the major factors which ensured the survival of the species is they are cold-blooded. The animals absorb the required heat from their surroundings. Further, the scales on the lizard’s body prevents loss of moisture, reducing its dependability on water. Hence, they are found even in some of the harsh conditions where the food and water is scarce, says teacher Venkat Reddy. The lizards mainly prey on ants, termites, small birds, frogs, butterflies, spiders, rats, geckos and other small animals. Like snakes, lizards shed skin as they grow. They use their teeth to attack and kill their prey. The lizards swallow their food completely.<br />The male among the lizards is bigger than female and breed between May and October. <br />The female digs a hole in the soft soil and lays 10 to 20 eggs and covers them with soil. <br /><br />The eggs thus laid hatch in six to seven weeks.<br />The lizard is an important part of the food chain as it maintains the ecological balance by eating many insects and also by being prey to other big reptiles and animals.<br /><br /></p>
