The Habitat of Long-Tailed Grass Lizards

Long-tailed grass lizards are a species native to Southeast Asia. As the name implies, the lizard has an extremely long tail that can be up to three times the length of the lizard's body. The habitat of the long-tailed lizard is tropical, warm and grassy.

  1. Geography

    • The long-tailed grass lizard is found in China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Malaysia peninsula. It is also found on surrounding island nations such as Indonesia. Various subspecies are also found in Laos and Burma. It is often referred to as the Asian grass lizard.

    Climate

    • The lizard's habitat is in tropical jungles, rain forests and large mountain ranges. It is humid and hot and frequently exposed to monsoon seasons and dry seasons. The long-tailed grass lizard is only found in the more humid, tropical regions.

    Habits

    • The long-tailed grass lizard is sometimes found in trees, making it semi-arboreal. However it is most often found in grassy areas where they feed on small insects and other prey. The lizard will bask in the sun on large flat rocks or logs. It usually experiences daytime temperature highs of up to 95 degrees, when it is most active. The long-tailed grass lizard is able to easily navigate thick grass and foliage in its native habitat because of its slick and streamlined body.

    Captivity

    • In captivity, the long-tailed grass lizard requires a similar habitat as it would have in the wild. It should have a habitat with about 70 percent humidity and nighttime temperatures of about 80 degrees with a basking spot temperature of between 90 and 95 degrees. The long-tailed grass lizard also needs a substrate that it can burrow in, such as mulch or peat moss.