| Shovel-snouted lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Meroles |
| Species: | M. anchietae |
| Binomial name | |
| Meroles anchietae (Bocage, 1867) | |
| Synonyms [2] [3] | |
The shovel-snouted lizard (Meroles anchietae), also known commonly as Anchieta's desert lizard, Anchieta's dune lizard and the Namib sand-diver, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
The specific name, anchietae, is in honor of Portuguese naturalist José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta, who was an explorer of Africa. [4]
The preferred natural habitat of M. anchietae is desert, with aeolian sand dunes and sparse vegetation, at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft). [1]
Adults of M. anchietae have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 5 cm (2.0 in). [5]
M. anchietae preys upon insects, especially small beetles. During dry periods when insects are scarce, it will eat seeds. [5]
The Lacertidae are the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. The group includes the genus Lacerta, which contains some of the most commonly seen lizard species in Europe. It is a diverse family with at least 300 species in 39 genera.
The Gerrhosauridae are a family of lizards native to Africa and Madagascar.
Holaspis is a genus of equatorial African lizards in the family Lacertidae. These lizards are capable of gliding flight for distances of 30 meters.
Meroles is a genus of lizards, commonly known as desert lizards, in the family Lacertidae. The genus contains eight species, inhabiting southwestern Africa, especially the Namib Desert.
Poromera is a genus of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The genus Poromera is monotypic, containing the single species, Poromera fordii, commonly known as the West African striped lizard. The species is endemic to western Central Africa.
Pseuderemias is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. Common names for the genus are false sand lizards or racerunners.
José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta was a 19th-century Portuguese explorer and naturalist who, between 1866 and 1897, travelled extensively in Portuguese Angola, Africa, collecting animals and plants. His specimens from Angola and Mozambique were sent out to Portugal, where they were later examined by several zoologists and botanists, chiefly among them J.V. Barboza du Bocage.
The long-tailed brush lizard, Urosaurus graciosus, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to the southwestern United States and adjacent northern Mexico.
Meroles squamulosa is a species of African lizard originally placed in the genus Ichnotropis, however phylogenetic evidence moves this species to the genus Meroles. The species is commonly called the common rough-scaled lizard or savanna lizard. It is largely found in southern Africa. These lizards are terrestrial and found in the range of mesic savannah. The common rough-scaled lizard is medium in size and well distributed in parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Meroles cuneirostris, the wedge-snouted sand lizard or wedge-snouted desert lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. It occurs in the Namib Desert of Namibia and South Africa.
Monopeltis is a genus of amphisbaenians in the family Amphisbaenidae. Species in the genus are commonly known as worm lizards, even though they are not lizards. The genus is endemic to southern Africa. 19 species are placed in this genus.
Agama anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's agama and the western rock agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
Monopeltis anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's worm lizard, Anchieta's spade-snouted worm lizard, and the Angolan spade-snouted worm lizard, is a species of amphisbaenian in the family Amphisbaenidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
Meroles knoxii, Knox's ocellated sand lizard or Knox's desert lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. It occurs in Namibia and South Africa.
Pedioplanis laticeps, known commonly as the Cape sand lizard or the Karoo sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Pedioplanis namaquensis, known commonly as the Namaqua sand lizard or l'Érémias namaquois, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Pedioplanis rubens, called commonly the Waterberg sand lizard and erroneously Ruben's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Namibia.
Pedioplanis undata, known commonly as the plain sand lizard or the western sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.
Pseuderemias smithii, also known commonly as Smith's racerunner or Smith's sand racer, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to East Africa.
Eumecia anchietae, also known commonly as Anchieta's serpentiform skink, Anchieta's snake skink, and the western serpentiform skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.
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