Peeper

Fern Tailed Peeper - "Sebastian Romu" © 2019

About

Common Names

Peepers, Song-Lizards

Tiny lizards capable of emitting remarkably loud vocalizations. A variety of distinctive chirping, warbles, and whistles make up the various songs of these small critters. Most active at dawn and dusk, peepers are insectivores. Great variety in colouration and patterns exist amongst the species of these reptiles.

Peepers are small lizards which come in a wide variety of sub-species with different habitats, activity cycles and myriad songs or mating calls. Some larger specimens have reportedly been taught to mimic speech.

Description

Classification

Reptile

Size

Varies significantly between sub-species, generally less than 15 cm (6 inches) in total body length.

Appearance

Peepers in general are slim-bodied, with wedge shaped heads on short necks, six equal length limbs, and long slender tails. They are covered in small scales, and have a wide range of colours and patterns.

Sexual Dimorphism

Common differences between the sexes of a species are colours and patterning being muted in females. Male often have more pronounced crests, pouches, frills or other additional features usually used in mate attraction and dominance displays.

Variance

Individual species are usually marked with some distinct feature that sets them apart from the general norm, such as variations in tail shape, additional morphology, unusual colouration or other details.

Ecology

Habitat

Temperate to Tropical latitudes, in Very Wet, Wetlands, or Humid forested environments. A few species are tolerant of arid conditions and adapted to drier biomes with a annual wet season.

Diet

Omnivorous, Eating a variety of plant materials, fruits, nuts, seeds, other smaller animals, insects, and worms.

Behaviour

Social grouping

Peepers can be found in quiet large groups without any social order if food and shelter is plentiful. Should food or suitable shelter from the sun or predators be in short supply they act more territorial and form smaller groups with one male to 3-6 females.

Temperament

Inquisitive, and approachable, but will flee from sudden or aggressive actions

Intelligence

Clever animals, some sub-species are capable of learning simple tricks, basic tool use, and mimicry.

Reproduction

Peepers mate usually in the spring, and a female will lay a small clutch of about one dozen eggs in soft sand or dirt. Generally the eggs are brooded, to protect them from depredation until they hatch at which time little parental care is observable. Males can be seen engaging in elaborate courtship displays and wrestling with other males over access to females during the spring mating season.

Notable Sub-Species

Blue-Twin-Crest

Noted for their pair of bright blue cockscomb crests which adorn the tops of their heads.

Fern-Tailed

Possessed of a flat profiled tail with frond-like side protrusions. They often sit with their tails held erect, mimicking the unfurled leaves of small ferns.

Long-Necked

Noted for exceptionally long slender necks roughly equal to their tails in length. This adaptation allows for the peepers to peer above the low ground cover in which they hide to watch for predators.

Split-Tailed

A rare sub-species whose tail splits into a forked, slightly prehensile appendage.

Domestication

General

Easily domesticated as pets, for entertaining songs, or limited vermin control.

As food

Too small for any large scale farming, peepers are sometimes considered a delicacy by gourmands.

Stories

Rook of Singing Water