| Transvaal Grass Lizard | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Cordylidae |
| Genus: | Chamaesaura |
| Species: | C. aenea |
| Binomial name | |
| Chamaesaura aenea Fitzinger, 1843[1] |
|
The Transvaal Grass Lizard, also known as the Transvaal Snake Lizard,[2] is a species of lizard in the genus Chamaesaura. It is found in southern African grasslands and on slopes.[3] The Transvaal Grass Lizard is ovoviparous.[4] The scientific name is Chamaesaura aenea, due to the copper color of the Transvaal Grass Lizard.[4] This lizard is listed as Near Threatened by Swaziland, though it is not on the international red list.[3]
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The Transvaal Grass Lizard inhabits South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland.[1] It can be found in grasslands and on slopes and ridges.[3]
This lizard is ovoviviparous, meaning mothers carry eggs inside their bodies until they are ready to hatch.[4]
Neither the Southern African Red Data nor the International Red Data list the Transvaal Grass Lizard. However, the Swaziland Red Data puts the lizard at Near Threatened levels.[3]
The scientific name of this lizard, Chamaesaura aenea, is due to the lizard's copper color. Aenea is a Latin word meaning "bronze" or "copper."[4]