Chelosania_brunnea

<i>Chelosania</i>

Chelosania

Genus of lizards

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]

Quick Facts Chelosania, Conservation status ...

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]

References

  1. [1]
    Teale, R.; Melville, J.; Wilson, S.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Chelosania brunnea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T83410049A83453653. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T83410049A83453653.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. [2]
    Chelosania at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 February 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Chelosania brunnea". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Chameleon dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  5. [5]
    Melville, Jane; Wilson, Steve (2019). Dragon Lizards of Australia. Melbourne: Museums Victoria Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-921833-49-6.


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