Ecology and natural history of the mountain dragon lizard ( <i>Diploderma batangense</i> ), a protected species endemic to southwestern China

Effective conservation of range-restricted reptiles requires a detailed understanding of their ecological traits and behavioural ecology. The mountain dragon lizard (Diploderma batangense), a narrow-range endemic restricted to western China and classified as a National Class II Protected species, remains poorly studied, and conservation efforts have been limited. From 2021 to 2025, extensive field investigations were undertaken to assess its population structure, habitat preferences, trophic ecology, behavioural repertoire and diel activity patterns. The population exhibited a balanced sex ratio across ontogenetic stages, a marked decline in total captures (≈27% from 2021 to 2025) and an age structure skewed towards adults (subadult-to-adult ratio of 1:2.5). Both sexes predominantly occupied exposed rocky substrates yet exhibited marked intersexual divergence in microhabitat selection. The species was broadly omnivorous, feeding primarily on lepidopterans and hemipterans, with occasional consumption of Fabaceae flowers. Reproductive activity peaked in late May, with oviposition occurring from late July to early August, during which females exhibited characteristic nesting behaviours. Visual signalling, most notably push-up displays, dominated social interactions and served critical roles in both courtship and territorial defence. Activity patterns varied by season and sex, with both sexes roosting nocturnally on shrub branches during summer. These findings establish the first comprehensive ecological baseline for D. batangense, providing essential data for informed conservation and habitat management strategies.