Cape Rough-scaled Lizard

About the Cape Rough-scaled Lizard

Ichnotropis capensis is a species of African lizard, which is native to the southern Afrotropics. It is the type species for the genus Ichnotropis, and is commonly called the Cape rough-scaled lizard due to them being found in southern Africa's Cape region. They are also called ornate rough-scaled lizard or Smith's rough-scaled sand lizard. The small lizards are terrestrial and occur in grassland, desert and brush areas of southern Africa.

I. capensis are medium-sized lizards with slender bodies, long tails, and well developed legs. Most of the specimens found are less than 76 mm long in snout–to-vent length (SVL) and share the general characteristics of its genus, including the following:

Keeled or overlapping dorsal scales are present, and the head shields are smooth to slightly rough Subocular scales border the lip, and no collar is present Smooth or tubular lamellae are present under the toes, but the toes lack a serrated or fringed edge

The cylindrical tail lacks a lateral fringe I. capensis is notably distinct from the genus in that the hind legs do not reach the underarm of the forelimbs. Adults have uniform grey and yellowish brown backs with white lateral... Wikipedia →