Green Crested Lizard

Green Crested Lizard

Bronchocela cristatella

Silhouette: Michael Scroggie · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
at Bako National Park

In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%

43 Verified sightings at Bako National Park From 2019 to 2026
336 In all 8 parks
August Best month
🌅 Crepuscular When it's spotted

About the Green Crested Lizard

Bronchocela cristatella, also known as the green crested lizard, is a species of agamid lizard endemic to Southeast Asia. B. cristatella is found in Malaysia (West Malaysia and Borneo), Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines (Palawan, Calamian Islands, Panay, Luzon), South Thailand, south Myanmar (Tenasserim Hills), and India (Nicobar Islands).

This species is a bright green lizard, sometimes possessing a blue tint on the head. It is able to change colour, turning darker brown when threatened. There is a dark ring around each eye, and a dark spot at the back of the head. The males have a crest on the neck.

It has a very long and thin tail (75% of total length). The body length is of 13 cm (5.1 in), and the total length (body + tail) is of 57 cm (22 in). From C.A.L. Günther (1864) The Reptiles of British India. Scales of the sides small, there being about forty in one of the transverse scries; ventral scales much larger, in fourteen longitudinal rows. A short scries of three or four larger scales forms a continuation of the superciliary margin; no other large scale on the temple. Nuchal crest low, formed by triangular spines; it is not continued... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Bako National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~60%
2 Danum Valley Conservation Area 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~50%
3 Kinabalu Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~40%
4 Sepilok 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~40%
5 Kerinci Seblat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~40%
6 Gunung Leuser National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~30%
7 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
8 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kuching 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
2 Singapore 🇸🇬 Singapore
~20%
3 Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~20%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Green Crested Lizard in Bako National Park?

Likely

About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Green Crested Lizard sighting in Bako National Park on a given day, based on 43 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 20 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Green Crested Lizard in Bako National Park?

July to October

In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Green Crested Lizard in Bako National Park on a given day, against about 10% in March, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see a Green Crested Lizard?

Between 4 and 7 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Green Crested Lizard sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.

Is Bako National Park the best place to see a Green Crested Lizard?

Yes

Of the 8 parks where we can rate Green Crested Lizard sightings, Bako National Park has the highest daily chance: about 60%. Next come Danum Valley Conservation Area (Malaysia, about 50%) and Kinabalu Park (Malaysia, about 40%). All parks ranked.

Where does the Green Crested Lizard sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Green Crested Lizard is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Bako National Park (43 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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