Chelosania

Chelosania
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
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. 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. Chelosania at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 February 2022.
3. "Chelosania brunnea". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
4. "Chameleon dragon". Australian Reptile Online Database. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
5. Melville, Jane; Wilson, Steve (2019). Dragon Lizards of Australia. Melbourne: Museums Victoria Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-921833-49-6.