# Leiolepis

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{{Short description|Genus of lizards}}
{{about|lizards|the genus of pitvipers formerly called ''Leiolepis''|Calloselasma}}
{{about|lizards|the genus of Triassic fish formerly called ''Leiolepis''|Alleiolepis}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image             = Leiolepis belliana, common butterfly lizard - Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.jpg
| image_caption     = Common butterfly lizard, ''L. belliana''
| taxon             = Leiolepis
| parent_authority  =[Fitzinger](/source/Leopold_Fitzinger), 1843
| authority  = [Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1829
| subdivision_ranks = [Species](/source/Species)
| subdivision       = 11 spp., see text
| display_parents   = 2
}}

'''''Leiolepis''''', commonly known as '''butterfly lizards''' or '''butterfly agamas''' ({{langx|th|'''แย้'''}}), are group of agamid lizards.<ref name=RDB/><ref name="GG2010" /> They are native to [Peninsular Malaysia](/source/Peninsular_Malaysia), [Thailand](/source/Thailand), [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), [Laos](/source/Laos), [Cambodia](/source/Cambodia), [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia), [Ryukyu Islands](/source/Ryukyu_Islands) (Japan), [Vietnam](/source/Vietnam), and [Hainan](/source/Hainan) (China). The genus includes both [sexual](/source/Sexual_reproduction) and [asexual](/source/Asexual_reproduction) species.<ref name="GG2010" /> ''Leiolepis'' is the sole [genus](/source/genus) of subfamily '''Leiolepidinae'''.

==Description and ecology==
''Leiolepis'' are moderately sized lizards with the largest snout-to-vent length of {{convert|18|cm|abbr=on}}. Sexual species show [sexual dimorphism](/source/sexual_dimorphism). They are [diurnal](/source/Diurnality) and live in flat, open areas with loose soil, which allows them to construct long, interconnected burrows used for refuge. They are [omnivorous](/source/omnivorous).<ref name="GG2010" />

==Species==
Ten species are recognized as being valid.<ref name=RDB/>

*'''Sexual species:'''
**''[L. belliana](/source/Leiolepis_belliana)'' {{small|([Hardwicke](/source/Thomas_Hardwicke) & [Gray](/source/John_Edward_Gray), 1827)}} – [common butterfly lizard](/source/common_butterfly_lizard)  
**''[L. guttata](/source/Leiolepis_guttata)'' {{small|[Cuvier](/source/Georges_Cuvier), 1829}} – [giant butterfly lizard](/source/giant_butterfly_lizard), spotted butterfly lizard 
**''[L. ocellata](/source/Leiolepis_ocellata)'' {{small|(G. Peters, 1971)}} – [ocellated butterfly lizard](/source/ocellated_butterfly_lizard)
**''[L. peguensis](/source/Leiolepis_peguensis)'' {{small|[G. Peters](/source/%3Ade%3AG%C3%BCnther_Peters_(Zoologe)), 1971}} – [Burmese butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_peguensis) 
**''[L. reevesii](/source/Leiolepis_reevesii)'' {{small|(Gray, 1831)}} – [Chinese butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_reevesii), Reeves's butterfly lizard 
**''[L. rubritaeniata](/source/Leiolepis_rubritaeniata)'' {{small|[Mertens](/source/Robert_Mertens), 1961}} – Reeves's butterfly lizard 
**''[L. glaurung](/source/Leiolepis_glaurung)'' {{small| Wanchai, Rujirawan, Murdoch, Aksornneam, Promnun, Kaatz, Gregory, Nguyen, Iderstein, Quah, L. L. Grismer, J. L. Grismer & Aowphol, 2024}} - Khorat Plateau Butterfly Lizard
*'''Asexual species:'''
**''[L. boehmei](/source/Leiolepis_boehmei)'' {{small|[Darevsky](/source/Ilya_Darevsky) & [Kupriyanova](/source/Larisa_Andreevna_Kupriyanova), 1993}} – [Böhme's butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_boehmei)
**''[L. guentherpetersi](/source/Leiolepis_guentherpetersi)'' {{small|Darevsky & Kupriyanova, 1993}} – [Peters's butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_guentherpetersi) 
**''[L. ngovantrii](/source/Leiolepis_ngovantrii)'' {{small|[J. Grismer](/source/Jesse_Leland_Grismer) & [L. Grismer](/source/%3Afr%3ALarry_Lee_Grismer), 2010}} – [Ngo Van Tri's lady butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_ngovantrii)<ref name="GG2010"/>
**''[L. triploida](/source/Leiolepis_triploida)'' {{small|G. Peters, 1971}} – [Thai butterfly lizard](/source/Leiolepis_triploida), Malayan butterfly lizard

''[Nota bene](/source/Nota_bene)'': A [binomial authority](/source/Binomial_nomenclature) in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Leiolepis''.

Asexual species have arisen through [hybridization](/source/Hybrid_(biology)) of sexually-reproducing species.<ref name="GG2010"/>

===Consumption===
In [the northeast region of Thailand](/source/Isan) it is popular to catch butterfly lizards and eat them.<ref>{{cite news|title=ชาวมหาสารคามแห่จับแย้-กะปอม ทำเมนูเด็ด 'ผัดกะเพราแย้' กินเองลดค่าใช้จ่าย|url=http://www.pptvthailand.com/news/%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B9%83%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AA/10671|date=28 April 2015|access-date=3 June 2016|work=[PPTV](/source/PPTV_(Thailand))|language=Thai}}</ref> In the [South Central Coast](/source/South_Central_Coast) region of Vietnam, especially in [Ninh Thuan Province](/source/Ninh_Thuan_Province), ''Leiolepis'' is considered a delicacy for its nutritional value and can fetch high prices on the market.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ăn thịt kỳ đà có tác dụng gì ? cách nấu thịt kỳ đà|url=http://cotacdunggi.com/p/an-thit-ky-da-co-tac-dung-gi-cach-nau-thit-ky-da.html|website=cotacdunggi.com |date=29 November 2015|language=Vi |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>

===Diet===
Butterfly Agamas commonly feast on insects (Worms, roaches, crickets, grasshoppers, larvae, beetles, moths) but can also eat fruits 
(Watermelon, apple, mango, papaya, dates, peaches, apricot) and vegetables (Collard greens, beet greens, mustard greens, broccoli, bell pepper, carrot, green bean). In captivity their meals should be dusted with a vitamin D3 calcium.

==Relationship to humans==
===Captivity===
Butterfly lizards can commonly be found in the pet trade. Not much is known about their breeding or raising their babies so most of the ones found in the pet trade are wild caught. 

===Traditional game===
In [Prachuap Khiri Khan Province](/source/Prachuap_Khiri_Khan_Province), Thailand, there is a traditional game called ''"yæ̂ lng rū"'' (แย้ลงรู; literally: "butterfly lizards hole down"<ref>{{cite news|title=แย้ลงรู|url=http://ich.culture.go.th/index.php/th/ich/folk-sports-games-and-martial-arts/261-sport/115-----m-s|access-date= 5 June 2013|work=[Ministry of Culture](/source/Ministry_of_Culture_(Thailand))|language=Thai}}</ref>).

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikispecies}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="GG2010">{{Cite journal |author=Grismer, Jesse L. |author2-link=:fr:Larry Lee Grismer |author2=Grismer, L. Lee |year=2010 |title=Who's your mommy? Identifying maternal ancestors of asexual species of ''Leiolepis'' Cuvier, 1829 and the description of a new endemic species of asexual ''Leiolepis'' Cuvier, 1829 from Southern Vietnam |journal=[Zootaxa](/source/Zootaxa) |volume=2433 |pages=47–61 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.2433.1.3 |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2010/f/z02433p061f.pdf }}</ref>

<ref name=RDB>{{NRDB genus|genus=Leiolepis |date=26 September |year=2017}}</ref>
}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q575093}}

Category:Leiolepis
Category:Lizard genera
Category:Lizards of Asia
Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Leiolepis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiolepis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiolepis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.