Hydrosaurus

Hydrosaurus
Hydrosaurus amboinensis
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Hydrosaurinae
Kaup, 1828
Genus: Hydrosaurus
Kaup, 1828
Type species
Hydrosaurus amboinensis
Species
Synonyms
  • Lophura Gray, 1827
  • Istiurus Cuvier, 1829

Hydrosaurus, commonly known as the sailfin dragons or sailfin lizards, is a genus in the family Agamidae. These relatively large lizards are named after the sail-like structure on their tails. They are native to Indonesia (four species) and the Philippines (one species), where they are generally found near water, such as rivers and mangrove swamps. Sailfin lizards are semiaquatic and able to run short distances across water using both their feet and tail for support, similar to the basilisks. They are threatened by both habitat loss and overcollection for the wild-animal trade.

In the 19th century, the genus was called Lophura, but in 1903, Poche pointed out that the name was preoccupied by a genus of pheasants. Since Günther in 1873, the Sulawesi populations were considered to belong to H. amboinensis; Denzer et al. in 2020 resurrected H. celebensis and H. microlophus, increasing the number of species from three to five.

They are the only members of the subfamily Hydrosaurinae.