Biology:Chelosania

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Short description: Genus of lizards

Chelosania
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Chelosania
Gray, 1845
Species:
C. brunnea
Binomial name
Chelosania brunnea
Gray, 1845

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]

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. 1.0 1.1 1.2 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. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/83410049/83453653. Retrieved 19 November 2021. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Chelosania at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Chelosania brunnea". https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:711e72c0-86c9-4626-96a3-a6a39cee9c5b. Retrieved 18 April 2020. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Chameleon dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Agamidae/Chelosania/brunnea. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Melville, Jane; Wilson, Steve (2019). Dragon Lizards of Australia. Melbourne: Museums Victoria Publishing. pp. 94. ISBN 978-1-921833-49-6. 

Wikidata ☰ Q1392851 entry