Transvaal Grass Lizard

Transvaal Grass Lizard
Transvaal Grass Lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus: Chamaesaura
Species: C. aenea
Binomial name
Chamaesaura aenea
Fitzinger, 1843[1]

The Transvaal Grass Lizard, also known as the Transvaal Snake Lizard,[2] is a species of lizard in the genus Chamaesaura. It is found in southern African grasslands and on slopes.[3] The Transvaal Grass Lizard is ovoviparous.[4] The scientific name is Chamaesaura aenea, due to the copper color of the Transvaal Grass Lizard.[4] This lizard is listed as Near Threatened by Swaziland, though it is not on the international red list.[3]

Contents

Distribution

The Transvaal Grass Lizard inhabits South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.[1] It can be found in grasslands and on slopes and ridges.[3]

Habits and breeding

This lizard is ovoviviparous, meaning mothers carry eggs inside their bodies until they are ready to hatch.[4]

Conservation

Neither the Southern African Red Data nor the International Red Data list the Transvaal Grass Lizard. However, the Swaziland Red Data puts the lizard at Near Threatened levels.[3]

Name

The scientific name of this lizard, Chamaesaura aenea, is due to the lizard's copper color. Aenea is a Latin word meaning "bronze" or "copper."[4]

See also

References