The oriental garden lizard, Calotes versicolor, is a widespread agamid lizard found across much of South and Southeast Asia. It is also called the eastern garden lizard, Indian garden lizard, changeable lizard, or sometimes the "bloodsucker," although it does not suck blood.
This lizard is famous for its ability to change color, especially during breeding season. Males may develop a bright red, orange, or dark head and throat while displaying to rivals or trying to attract females.
Oriental garden lizards live in open habitats, scrub, forest edges, gardens, farms, parks, and even busy urban areas. They often perch on walls, branches, fences, or shrubs, watching for movement around them.
Their diet is mostly insects such as ants, beetles, grasshoppers, dragonflies, and caterpillars. They may also take small vertebrates, including tiny lizards or rodents, and occasionally nibble plant material.
Females lay eggs in moist soil, and the young hatch after several weeks. These lizards are nonvenomous and useful insect hunters, so the best way to enjoy them is to watch them from a respectful distance.