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Chinese Crocodile Lizard

This semiaquatic lizard is found only in China and Vietnam.

Two rigid rows of scales along its tail give this reptile a crocodilian appearance.

  • Least Concern
  • Near Threatened
  • Vulnerable
  • Endangered
  • Critically Endangered
  • Extinct in the Wild
  • Extinct

FACTS ABOUT CHINESE CROCODILE LIZARDS

The Chinese crocodile lizard spends much of its time in shallow water or in overhanging branches and vegetation, where it hunts its prey of insects, snails, tadpoles, and worms. Individuals in captivity may be fed baby mice. A rare and little-studied lizard, which regulates the international trade of specimens.

Conservation

A 2008 study estimated that 950 crocodile lizards were left in China, while another study estimated that fewer than 150 adults were left in Vietnam. Habitat loss is a major threat to the species. The population decline of the Chinese crocodile lizard can be explained by a combination of poaching, water flow changes, mining, electrofishing, and the poisoning of fish supply due to agricultural waste. Since 1990; there are low levels of legal exports for the pet trade but it is believed that illegal collection occurs at a higher level. In 2014, it was listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List based on severe population declines and ongoing threats.

Key Facts

Family:
Shinisauridae.
Diet:
Invertebrates, like insects, snails, and tadpoles.
Life Span:
10 years
Distribution:
North America - specifically Sonora, Sinaloa and Chihuahua.
Habitat:
Subtropical forest in the mountains of southern China
Length:
Eight to 16 inches
Weight:
Seven to 10 ounces
Did you know?
This reptile is sometimes referred to as the "lizard of great sleepiness" by indigenous people.

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16 Mar 2025

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