Rare lizard spotted in Ningbo

A close-up of Takydromus sylvaticus. [Photo/Tide News]

Researchers in Ningbo have recently confirmed the city's first sighting of Takydromus sylvaticus.

The species was spotted at Wulongtan Scenic Area in Longguan township, Haishu district, by investigator Lin Qiaohan from the Ningbo Research Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences. This green, long-tailed lizard is a protected species in Zhejiang and a China-endemic reptile.

First discovered in 1926 by American scientist C. H. Pope in Chong'an, Fujian province, the lizard has since been recorded in several Zhejiang locations — including Wenzhou (2012), Lishui (2021), and Jinhua's Pan'an and Pujiang counties (2023–24). The Ningbo discovery marks the province's fifth record.

Distinguished by a white stripe running from below the eye to the hip, and a tail three times its body length, the lizard can detach its tail when threatened and regenerate it later. Summer is its breeding season, which aligns with most recent sightings.

The Haishu ecology and environment bureau stated that the find reflects ongoing conservation success. Monitoring at the Wulongtan site forms part of Ningbo's broader effort to safeguard forest biodiversity — an initiative showing promising results.