The genus Chamaesaura is a small genus centred on southern Africa. All three species are notable in the Cordylidae for their very reduced limbs and elongated bodies, which are adapted for a life of "swimming" through the long grass that forms their habitat. Unlike many other cordylids, these species are not found among rocks. Branch notes that although these lizards can practise autotomy, they only shed the minimum part of the tail necessary as they largely depend upon it for their locomotion: regeneration of the shed part is also quite fast. He also notes that Chamaesaura move with difficulty on smooth or sandy surfaces, etc. The scales of all three species are large, keeled and fairly uniform, being arranged in regular rows along and across the body [Grzimek]. Females are ovoviparous.
For the care of C. anguina, Mattison suggests a roomy cage with a substrate of sand or fine gravel covered in dead leaves, grasses or bracken and some flat stones. A bedding of tall grass would appear to be ideal, although more complicated to plant than normal cage furniture. It should be noted however that Chamaesaura are rarely if ever seen in the pet trade, at least in the UK.
| C.aenea | C. anguina | C. macrolepis |
See main Cordylidae page for details.
Back to Cordylidae | Lizards | Amphibians | Reptiles | Back to Home Page