March has been one awe-inspiring month for me always. This year has offered me the similar unusual encounters, new bonding, lot of creative learning and exciting opportunities. I am still amongst intelligent researchers, hardworking associates and motivating director craving to understand the interactions with nature. Day by day the thirst for learning about the nature is on rise.
The family of agamidae have been mainly ignored by the people living in the city, though nature lovers have always been pondered by these are capable of change of their colors to regulate their body temperatures. As far as geckos are concerned, they are well known for their shedding and regeneration. People tend to forget whatever technology is derived, it is from nature. Modern day exoskeleton suits, spiderman costumes and autonomous gliding robots are bio inspired and we tend to forget that.
Fig 1. Man deriving all benefits from nature
One such creature that fascinated me a lot was Draco Dussumieri which exhibits evolution at its best. Draco is a genus of agamid lizards also known as flying dragons. The ribs and their connecting membrane may be extended to create a wing. Seeing a Draco glide from one tree to other reminded me of mythological dragons. These are found in virtually all plantations near rainforest habitats.
Fig 2.Draco the flying lizard at Agumbe Rainforest Research Station,Agumbe
These so called flying dragons have a set of elongated ribs which they can extend and retract. Between these ribs are folds of skin that rest flat against the body when not in use, but act as wings when unfurled, allowing the Draco to catch the wind and glide.
Fig 3. Draco in Areca nut plantation
The lizards use their long, slender tails to steer themselves. The animal developed this unusual flying trait as a mechanism for survival. In the dark and dense rainforests, scuttling on the ground would be too dangerous; however staying in trees might not be enough, so the animal developed a way to be able to travel from tree to tree without ever having to touch the ground.
Fig 4. Draco dussumieri gliding in Areca nut plantation at Agumbe Rainforest,India
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