Latastia johnstonii

Latastia johnstonii
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Latastia
Species:	L. johnstonii
Binomial name
	Latastia johnstonii; Boulenger, 1907
Synonyms
	Latastia kidwelliBoulenger, 1919; Latastia bredoi de Witte, 1942;

Last updated September 29, 2025

Latastia johnstonii, commonly known as Johnston's long-tailed lizard, Malawi long-tailed lizard, and Nyasaland long-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to East Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, johnstonii, is in honour of British explorer Harry Johnston.^[3]

Description

L. johnstonii has keeled dorsal scales, which are arranged in 39–52 rows at midbody. The tail of juveniles is red, the color fading at adulthood. Adults have a total length (including tail) of 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in). The tail length is 65–75% of the total length.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

L. johnstonii is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.^[2]

The preferred natural habitats of L. johnstonii are grassland and savanna, at altitudes of 330–1,000 m (1,080–3,280 ft).^[1]

Ecology and behavior

L. johnstonii is terrestrial,^[1] diurnal, and fast-moving.^[4]L. johnstonii preys upon invertebrates.^[4]

L. johnstonii is oviparous.^[2] Clutch size is three or four eggs, and each egg measures 12 mm × 7 mm (0.47 in × 0.28 in).^[4]

References

1 2 3 Wagner P, Branch WR, Safari I, Chenga J (2021). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T21265939A21265943.en. Accessed on 08 July 2024.
1 2 3 Latastia johnstonii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 4 May 2019. www.reptile-database.org.
↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Latastia johnstonii, p. 135).
1 2 3 4 Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Wildlife. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1-3994-0481-5. ("Latastia johnstoni [sic]", pp. 195–196).

Boulenger GA (1907). "Descriptions of Two new African Lizards of the Genus Latastia". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Seventh Series19: 392–394. ("Latastia Johnstoni [sic]", new species, pp. 392–393).
Broadley DG, Howell KM (1991). "A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys". Syntarsus1: 1–70. (Latastia johnstonii, p. 18).
Loveridge A (1957). "Check List of the Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa (Uganda; Kenya; Tanganyika; Zanzibar)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College117 (2): 151–362. ("Latastia johnstoni [sic]", pp. 231–232).

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[iucn-1] 1 2 3 Wagner P, Branch WR, Safari I, Chenga J (2021). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T21265939A21265943.en. Accessed on 08 July 2024.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 Latastia johnstonii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 4 May 2019. www.reptile-database.org.

[3] Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Latastia johnstonii, p. 135).

[Spawlsetal2018-4] 1 2 3 4 Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London: Bloomsbury Wildlife. 624 pp. ISBN 978-1-3994-0481-5. ("Latastia johnstoni [sic]", pp. 195–196).

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