Chalarodon madagascariensis

Chalarodon madagascariensis
	male
	female; both Toliara, Madagascar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Opluridae
Genus:	Chalarodon
Species:	C. madagascariensis
Binomial name
	Chalarodon madagascariensis; Peters, 1854

Chalarodon madagascariensis is a species of Malagasy terrestrial iguanian lizard native to western, southern, and south eastern Madagascar.[1] Until 2015, it was thought to be the only member of its genus, but a second species, C. steinkampi was recognised in 2015.[2] It is not yet clear if the distributional range of these two species overlaps.

Habitat

The species inhabits mainly coastal, semi-arid to arid regions and almost entirely open, or very sparsely vegetated habitats with sandy soil in the province of Toliara, and in the southwestern provinces of Fianarantsoa and Majunga in the southwest of Madagascar.

Distribution

This species is widespread in western, southern, and eastern Madagascar.[1]

Morphology

Calarodon madagascariensis is most easily distinguished from C. steinkampi by its keeled gular and ventral scales, which are unkeeled in the latter species.[2] Total length is up to 223mm, usually about 200mm.[1]

Nutrition

The Madagascar sand lizards are insectivores. In addition to insects, sometimes plants are ingested, particularly in the form of leaves and roots.

References

Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7.
Miralles, Aurelien; Glaw, Frank; Ratsoavina, Fanomezana; Vences, Miguel (2015). "A likely microendemic new species of terrestrial iguana, genus Chalarodon, from Madagascar". Zootaxa. 3946 (2): 201–20. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3946.2.3. PMID 25947685.

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[GlawVences07-1] Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Köln: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN 978-3-929449-03-7.

[Miralles2015-2] Miralles, Aurelien; Glaw, Frank; Ratsoavina, Fanomezana; Vences, Miguel (2015). "A likely microendemic new species of terrestrial iguana, genus Chalarodon, from Madagascar". Zootaxa. 3946 (2): 201–20. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3946.2.3. PMID 25947685.