Discovering the Ornate Earless Agama (Aphaniotis ornata) in Borneo’s Rainforest

Ornate Earless Agama (Aphaniotis ornata)

During my time in Borneo, I encountered the Ornate Earless Agama (Aphaniotis ornata). It was a rainy night, and I found it sleeping about 30 cm above the ground. Though these agamas are diurnal, they often sleep at the tips of branches or on leaves to stay alert to predators. This makes them easier to observe at night, despite not being nocturnal. The name “Earless” comes from their ear openings being covered by skin, although they still have ears like other lizards beneath the skin. The charming point of this species is the small projection on the tip of its nose.