001. And let the entries start a-rolling out...

After much "coercion" from LK, my blog - 緑の道 is finally up. ^.^v
Just in case you didn't know, the Japanese letters mean "The Verdant Road". And the very adorable lizard that welcomes you as soon as this page appears is none other than the Emerald Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella). Caught this lil' guy sunbathing itself on the pavement and with haste, snapped a shot of it before it scuttled into a tree nearby.

Anyway, time to satisfy my growling tummy before it bursts into tears. More entries to come (soon) but beware, for most of them (I hesitate to say all) will be on the topic that's closest to my heart: the Big M (Mother Nature, in short). Till the next entry, ja!


Bronchocela
broncho- : [Gr.] "windpipe" (or what we know as the trachea)
cel- : [Gr] 2 possibilities
1) abdomen (hollow, cavity of the body)
2) to rise high
In this case, one would think 1 as the more appropriate right? I wouldn't know, but I feel that the 2nd meaning gives a better portrayal.
When combined, Bronchocela would mean "windpipe that rises high". In fact, only the Bronchocela species have a lateral (situated at the side) fold of skin that stretches from the posterior (rear) edge of the jaw to the shoulder which can be erected by the hyoid (U-shaped bone at the root of the tongue) apparatus. [1]

cristatella
crista- : [Gr.] crist "comb, crest"
tel- : [Gr.] "end"
B. cristatella possesses a jagged crest that at the back of its back, hence its specific epiphet. (I guess)

Reference:
[1] DIONG, C.H. & LIM, S.S.L. Taxonomic review and morphometric description of Bronchocela cristatella (Kuhl, 1820) (Squamata: Agamidae) with notes on other species in the genus. p. 345-359.