About Sitana ponticeriana Cuvier, 1829
Sitana ponticeriana, commonly known as the Pondichéry fan-throated lizard, is a species of agamid lizard native to eastern peninsular India. It was previously believed to have a wide distribution range, but studies conducted in 2016 split the original group into several species that are now placed in two different genera. Members of the genus Sitana have an enlarged projecting scale on the posterior side of the hind thigh, a feature that is absent in the closely related sister genus Sarada. This species is most often found living on the ground in open patches within thin forests. When disturbed, this lizard will sometimes run using a bipedal gait. In terms of distribution, Sitana ponticeriana occurs across the eastern parts of peninsular India, along the Coromandel Coast, and it may also be present in parts of Sri Lanka. Additionally, researchers have discovered new colourful fan-throated lizard species from the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram that belong to the genus Sitana. These new species are Sitana attenboroughii, named after veteran broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, and Sitana marudhamneydhal.
