| Chelosania | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Chelosania Gray, 1845 |
| Species: | C. brunnea |
| Binomial name | |
| Chelosania brunnea Gray, 1845 | |
Chelosania is a genus of agamid lizards that contains a single species, Chelosania brunnea. [2] These are commonly known as the chameleon dragon. [1] [2] [3] [4] They live in the northern parts of West Australia, the Northern Territory, and northwestern Queensland. [1] [3]
Chelosania has short limbs with a laterally compressed body, and small eye apertures and large ear openings. [5] They have an average snout to vent length of 11.8 cm, [4] and average total length of 30 cm. [3]
Chelosania is usually seen on the ground or in low level vegetation, and is slow moving. [3] Females lay eggs in burrows between July and August, with up to 8 eggs recorded. Chelosania eats ants, and has been recorded eating green ants. [5]
Genetic analysis shows that Chelosania, along with the thorny devil, is a significantly older species than more recent desert agamids. [5]
