Nucras tessellata

Nucras tessellata
Nucras tessellata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Subfamily: Lacertinae
Genus: Nucras
Species: N. tessellata
Binomial name
Nucras tessellata
(Smith, 1838)

Nucras tessellata (Smith, 1838), or the Western or Striped Sandveld Lizard, occurs along the west coast of Southern Africa, being found in the Western Cape, Tankwa Karoo National Park, Richtersveld, Botswana, Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Namibia. [1] Although preferring arid, sandy areas they also stray into fynbos and mountain grassland. Members of the genus Nucras have a cylindrical body and extremely long tail. They are secretive and not often seen.

This is a slender, whip-tailed lizard about 25 cm long, the tail accounting for about two-thirds its length and used as a rudder during its lightning dashes. In breeding colours it is strongly striped in black and white over its forequarters, becoming bright orange-brown over its hindquarters and tail - its non-breeding colours show striping down the entire length of the body. Its preferred prey, during active morning and evening forays, is scorpions supplemented by spiders, grasshoppers, termites and beetles, often excavated from their daytime retreats. [2]

External links

Bibliography

  • A review of the Nucras tessellata group (Sauria: Lacertidae) (Arnoldia) by Donald G Broadley (1972)
  • Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa by Bill Branch (1998)

References

  1. ^ http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Nucras&species=tessellata
  2. ^ The Reptiles and Amphibians of Southern Africa by Walter Rose (Maskew Miller 1962)


Stub icon This lizard article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.