Meroles knoxii | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Lacertidae |
Genus: | Meroles |
Species: | M. knoxii |
Binomial name | |
Meroles knoxii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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Meroles knoxii, also known commonly as Knox's desert lizard and Knox's ocellated sand lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
The specific name, knoxii, is in honor of Scottish anatomist Robert Knox. [3]
Adults of M. knoxii usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5–6.5 cm (2.2–2.6 in). The ear openings are visible. The toes are slightly fringed. Dorsally, the body is brownish, with a striped and spotted pattern. Ventrally, it is bluish gray to cream-colored, except during breeding season when males have a bright yellow chin, throat, and anal region. [4]
M. knoxii occurs in Namibia and South Africa. [2]
The preferred natural habitat of M. knoxii is shrubland. [1]
M. knoxii is terrestrial, [1] diurnal, and active, dashing across sandy soil from shrub to shrub. [4]
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