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Chamaesaura anguina LINNAEUS, 1758

IUCN Red List - Chamaesaura anguina - Least Concern, LC
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Higher TaxaCordylidae (Cordylinae), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards)
SubspeciesChamaesaura anguina anguina (LINNAEUS 1758)
Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis LAURENT 1964 
Common NamesE: Cape Grass Lizard, Cape Snake Lizard 
SynonymChamaesaura anguina anguina (LINNAEUS 1758)
Lacerta anguina LINNAEUS 1758: 210
Chalcides pinnata LAURENTI 1768
Chalcida anguina — MEYER 1795: 31
Chamaesaura anguinea — SCHNEIDER 1801
Seps monodactylus DAUDIN 1802
Chalcides monodactylus — OPPEL 1811
Lacerta monodactyla — SHAW & NODDER 1811: plate 947
Monodactylus anguinus — MERREM 1820
Chamaesaura anguina — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1839: 441
Chamaesaura anguina — BOULENGER 1885: 264
Chamaesaura didactyla BOULENGER 1890
Chamaesaura anguina — ROUX 1907
Chamaesaura anguina anguina — LOVERIDGE 1944
Chamaesaura anguina anguina — BOYCOTT 1992
Cordylus anguinus — FROST et al. 2001
Cordylus anguina — COOPER 2005
Chamaesaura anguina anguina — BATES et al. 2014: 184
Chamaesaura anguina anguina — STANDER 2023: 85

Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis LAURENT 1964
Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis LAURENT 1964: 50
Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis — STANLEY et al. 2011
Chamaesaura anguina oligopholis — MARQUES et al. 2018 
DistributionRepublic of South Africa (Eastern Cape), Eswatini (Swaziland), Angola, S Mozambique, E/S Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire)

Type locality: “in Cap. B. Spei lutosis, mihi non visa”

oligopholis: Angola, adjacent S Democratic Republic of the Congo. Type locality: “Calonda, Lunda,” Lunda Norte Province, Angola.”  
ReproductionOvoviviparous / Viviparous, giving birth to 6–12 young. 
TypesType: BMNH 1946.8.7.98 (90.1.20.3)
Holotype: BMNH 1946.8.7.98 [didactyla]
Holotype: MD 6003 (collector A. Serralheiro) [oligopholis] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis (genus): Body serpentiform; tail very long and slender; li.mbs rudimentary. Head shields regular; nostril pierced in the nasal; ear-opening moderate. 'Scales on body and tail uniform, lanceolate, strongly keeled and imbricate, forming more or less regular longitudinal and transverse rows; median dorsals a little larger than others (Fitzsimons 1943: 409).


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CommentLimb morphology: Reduced limbs; the hindlimb has only a single clawed digit.

Type species: Lacerta anguina LINNAEUS 1758 is the type species of the genus Chamaesaura SCHNEIDER 1801.

Distribution: not in East Africa (S. Spawls, pers. comm., 28 June 2018).

Reference images: see Uetz et al. 2024 for high-resolution reference images for this species. 
EtymologyApparently after Latin anguis = snake, for its snake-like appearance.

The genus was named after Greek “khamai” = on the ground, and Greek “saura” (or sauros) = lizard. 
References
  • Bates, M.F.; Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M.; Burger, M., Marais, J.; Alexander, G.J. & de Villliers, M.S. (eds.) 2014. Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, 512 pp.
  • Berger, H. 1978. Chamaesaura anguina - Birth of live Young in Captivity. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (19): 22-24 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G. A. 1890. First report on additions to the lizard collection in the British Museum (Natural History). Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1890: 77—86 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G. A. 1899. Description of two new lizards from the interior of British East Africa. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1899: 96-98 - get paper here
  • Boulenger, G.A. 1885. Catalogue of the lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 2, Second edition. London, xiii+497 pp. - get paper here
  • Boycott, R. 1990. Life History Note: Chamaesaura anguina: Size, Reproduction and susceptability to Fire. J. Herp. Assoc. Africa (37): 49-49 - get paper here
  • Boycott, R.C. 1992. An Annotated Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of Swaziland. The Conservation Trust of Swaziland - get paper here
  • Branch, William R. 1993. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 144 S.
  • Branch, William R.; Haagner, Gerald V. & Branch, M. S. 1992. Geographical Distribution. Sauria: Cordylidae: Chamaesaura anguina (Linnaeus, 1758). Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa (Humewood), 41: 36-37. - get paper here
  • Broadley, D. G. & HOWELL, K. M. 1991. A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys. Syntarsus 1: 1—70
  • Ceríaco, Luis M. P.; Mariana P. Marques, Ilunga André, Esteves Afonso, David C. Blackburn & Aaron M. Bauer 2020. ILLUSTRATED TYPE CATALOGUE OF THE “LOST” HERPETOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS OF MUSEU DO DUNDO, ANGOLA. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 162 (7): 379-440 - get paper here
  • Cooper Jr., W.E. 2005. Duration of movement as a lizard foraging movement variable. Herpetologica 61 (4): 363-372 - get paper here
  • Duméril, A. M. C. and G. Bibron. 1839. Erpétologie Générale on Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles. Vol. 5. Roret/Fain et Thunot, Paris, 871 pp. - get paper here
  • Essex, R. 1925. Descriptions of two new species of the genus Acontias and notes on some other lizards found in the Cape Province. Rec. Albany Mus. 3: 332-342.
  • Fraser M. 2023. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Western Cape, South Africa. Biodiversity Observations 13: 162–185. 14 March 2023 - get paper here
  • Frost, D.; Janies, D.; Le Fras N. Mouton, P. & Titus, T. 2003. A molecular perspective on the phylogeny of the Girdled Lizards (Cordylidae, Squamata). American Museum Novitates (3310): 1-10 - get paper here
  • Gotch, A. F. 1986. Reptiles - Their Latin Names Explained. Blandford Press, 176 pp.
  • Gravenhorst, J. L. C. 1851. Über die im Zoologischen Museum der Universität Breslau Befindlichen Wirtelschleichen (Pseudosaura), Krüppelfüssler (Brachypoda), und einige andere, Denselben verwandte Reptilien aus den Zünften der Schleichen und Dickzüngler [Euprepes striolatus]. Acta Acad. Caes. Leop. Carol. Nat. Cur. 23 (1): 291-394 [1847] - get paper here
  • Günther, A. 1895. Notice of Reptiles and Batrachians collected in the eastern half of tropical Africa. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (6) 15: 523-529. - get paper here
  • Hewitt, John 1911. Records of South African Lacertilia and Amphibia, Addenda and Corrigenda. Annals Transvaal Museum 3 (1): 42-55. - get paper here
  • Laurent, R.F. 1964. Reptiles et batraciens de l'Angola (troisième contribution). Companhia de Di amantes de Angola (Diamang), Serviços Culturais, Museu do Dundo (Angola), No. 67, 165 pp.
  • Laurenti, J. N. 1768. Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austracorum, quod authoritate et consensu. Vienna, Joan. Thomae, 217 pp. - get paper here
  • Linnaeus, C. [= Linné, C. von] 1758. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiæ. 10th Edition: 824 pp. - get paper here
  • Marques, Mariana P.; Luis M. P. Ceríaco , David C. Blackburn , and Aaron M. Bauer 2018. Diversity and Distribution of the Amphibians and Terrestrial Reptiles of Angola -- Atlas of Historical and Bibliographic Records (1840–2017). Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (Ser. 4) 65: 1-501 (Supplement II)
  • Meyer, F.A.A. 1795. Synopsis Reptilium, novam ipsorum sistens generum methodum, nec non Gottingensium huius ordinis animalium enumerationem. Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Göttingen, 32 pp [for current names see Rösler & Böhme 2021] - get paper here
  • Muchai, Vincent & Patrick Malonza 2011. The reptiles and amphibians of Kibwezi Forest, Ngulia and Chyulu Hills. Kenya Past and Present (39): 45-49 - get paper here
  • Niekisch, Manfred 1981. Chamaesaura anguina im Terrarium. Herpetofauna 3 (13): 9-10. - get paper here
  • Reeves, B., Brooke, C. F., Venter, J. A., & Conradie, W. 2022. The Reptiles and Amphibians of the Mpofu-Fort Fordyce Nature Reserve Complex in the Winterberg Mountains, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. African Journal of Wildlife Research, 52(1) - get paper here
  • Reissig, J. 2014. Girdled Lizards and Their Relatives. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt, ISBN-10: 3899734378
  • Rösler, Herbert & Wolfgang Böhme 2021. Das Leben von Friedrich Albrecht Anton Meyer (1768 – 1795) und die Herpetologie in seinen Schriften, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der „Synopsis Reptilium“. Sekretär 21: 83-129
  • Roux,J. 1907. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Fauna von Süd-Afrika. Ergebnisse einer Reise von Prof. Max Weber im Jahre 1894. VII. Lacertilia (Eidechsen). Zool. Jahrb., Abt. Syst., Geogr. Biol. Tiere (Jena), 25: 403-444 - get paper here
  • Shaw,G. & Nodder, Elizabeth (Eds.) 1811. The Naturalist's Miscellany [...], Vol. XXII. London, Nodder & Co., plates 925-972, 186 unnumbered pages, [published in monthly issues be-tween August 1, 1811, and July 1, 1811]
  • Spawls, S. & Rotich, D. 1997. An annotated checklist of the lizards of Kenya. J. East African Nat. Hist. 86: 61-83
  • Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Drewes, R.C. & Ashe, J. 2002. A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa. Academic Press, 543 pp. [reviews in HR 34: 396 and Afr. J. Herp. 51; 147] - get paper here
  • Stander, R.I. 2023. The Reptiles of the Limpopo Province and Kruger National Park. Herp Nomad, Polokwane, South Africa, 367 pp. - get paper here
  • Stanley, Edward L.; Aaron M. Bauer; Todd R. Jackman, William R. Branch, P. Le Fras N. Mouton 2011. Between a rock and a hard polytomy: rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizard (Squamata: Cordylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 58(1): 53-70. - get paper here
  • Toit, Annemarie du; P. le Fras N. Mouton, Alexander F. Flemming 2003. Aseasonal reproduction and high fecundity in the Cape grass lizard, Cordylus anguinus , in a fire-prone habitat. Amphibia-Reptilia 24 (4): 471-482 - get paper here
  • Tolley, K.A., Conradie, W., Pietersen, D.W., Weeber, J., Burger, M. & Alexander, G.J. (eds) 2023. Conservation status of the reptiles of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. Suricata 10. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
  • Uetz, P.H.; Patel, M.; Gbadamosi, Z.; Nguyen, A.; Shoope, S. 2024. A Reference Database of Reptile Images. Taxonomy 4: 723–732 - get paper here
  • Venter, Jan A.; Werner Conradie 2015. A checklist of the reptiles and amphibians found in protected areas along the South African Wild Coast, with notes on conservation implications. Koedoe 57 (1): 1-25. doi: 10.4102/koedoe.v57i1.1247 - get paper here
  • Witte, G. F. de 1933. Reptiles récoltés au Conge Belge par le Dr. H. Schouteden et par M. G.-F. Witte. Ann. Mus. Conge belge Zool. Ser. 1 Tome III: 53-100.
 
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