Thai water dragon bask in the sun to keep warm

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Thai water dragons can be found along the banks of freshwater streams of Khao Yai National Park. They are active during the day, and spend most of their time in the trees or plants. If threatened, the dragon will drop from the trees into the water and swim to safety. They can to grow up to 1 meter in total length and can live from ten to fifteen years. Coloration ranges from dark to light green, or sometimes purple with a orange stomach. Their throats are considered to be more attractive, which can be quite colorful like blue and purple, or peach. The tail, slightly over two-thirds of the entire body length, can be used as a weapon, for balance, and to assist swimming. The Thai water dragon possesses a small photosensitive spot between their eyes referred to as the as the third eye. Since it recognizes differences in light, the third eye can also help the lizard avoid predation from birds and other aerial threats, and can awaken from deep sleep from even slight changes in light from overhead. Their diet consists mainly of insects, supplemented with an occasional small fish, mammal or reptile.

Thai water dragons are native to the Southeast Thailand. They bask in the sun to keep warm. But they also do it for the vitamin D. All lizards grow continuously throughout their lives, however their skin does not grow to accommodate their changing size. It is for this reason that they must shed their skin regularly to allow for proper growth. A Thai water dragon will shed completely within a week or two.

De Thaise waterdraak of wateragame is een hagedis die veel van water houdt en is daarmee onder de hagedissen een grote uitzondering. Je kunt ze vinden in Khao Yai National Park. De waterdraak is met z'n als peddel afgeplatte staart een zeer goede zwemmer. De wateragame eet insecten en kleine visjes. Deze hagedis kan tot 1 meter lang worden. Tussen de ogen aan het einde van z'n nekkam zit een derde oog: een stuk huid met lichtgevoelige cellen die geen beeld kunnen vormen zoals de andere twee ogen, maar wel licht/donker-verschuivingen kunnen waarnemen, handig als een vijand van boven nadert, zoals een roofvogel. Zelfs in slaap kan hij dan nog wakker worden. Bij nood kan hij vanuit de boom in het water springen en zwemmen naar een veilig plekje. Ze genieten van de zon om warm te blijven. Maar ze doen het ook voor de vitamine D. Alle hagedissen groeien continu tijdens hun leven, maar hun huid groeit mee. Het is om deze reden dat ze hun huid regelmatig vervellen om te zorgen voor een goede groei. Binnen één of twee weken heeft de Thaise waterdraak weer een nieuwe huid.

Taken in: Thailand (show map)

Taken on: July 25, 2015

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Camera: Canon EOS 6D, f/6.3, 1/80 sec, 105mm, ISO 1600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 6D
Aperture:	f/6.3
Exposure Time:	0.013 sec (1/80)
Focal Length:	105mm
ISO:	1600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Partial
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	PaintShop Pro 15,00
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