Johnston’s long-tailed lizard

About the Johnston’s long-tailed lizard

Latastia johnstonii, commonly known as Johnston's long-tailed lizard, Malawi long-tailed lizard, and Nyasaland long-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to East Africa. The specific name, johnstonii, is in honour of British explorer Harry Johnston.

L. johnstonii has keeled dorsal scales, which are arranged in 39–52 rows at midbody. The tail of juveniles is red, the color fading at adulthood. Adults have a total length (including tail) of 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in). The tail length is 65–75% of the total length.

L. johnstonii is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The preferred natural habitats of L. johnstonii are grassland and savanna, at altitudes of 330–1,000 m (1,080–3,280 ft).

L. johnstonii is terrestrial, diurnal, and fast-moving. L. johnstonii preys upon invertebrates. L. johnstonii is oviparous. Clutch size is three or four eggs, and each egg measures 12 mm × 7 mm (0.47 in × 0.28 in). Boulenger GA (1907). "Descriptions of Two new African Lizards... Wikipedia →