Makassar Sailfin Lizard

The Makassar sailfin lizard is a large Hydrosaurus exceeding 1 m in total length. The head and neck are black, sometimes with yellow near the eyes, throat and shoulders. Adult males have dirty-yellow sides with groups of enlarged dark scales; adult females are black with enlarged yellow scales. The tail is black with irregular yellow marks, and the sail is pale brownish-yellow with black stripes (Reptile Database diagnosis).

Hydrosaurus microlophus is endemic to Sulawesi, with Makassar as its type locality, and lays eggs. A 2020 revision separated it from populations formerly grouped under H. amboinensis. Its name refers to the relatively small crest spines, especially in females. The opened taxonomic account did not provide direct habitat, diet, activity, clutch size or incubation values, so none are borrowed from other sailfin lizards (Reptile Database; Denzer and colleagues 2020).