THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

Diet: Young eat fruit, leaves, and other
vegetation; also spiders, insects, and other
small invertebrates. Adults will also eat small
mice and other rodents, as well as smaller
lizards. They are sit-and-wait predators,
disguised from prey by their coloration and
stillness. In captivity, their diet may consist of
live crickets, chopped fruits and vegetables,
and small pinkie mice.
Reproduction and Care of Young: Females
lay 4–6 eggs in a shallow depression, which is
then covered. Eggs hatch in three–four months;
hatchlings are about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm)
long. Life span: to 24 years.
Mortality/Longevity: Primarily snakes.
Remarks: Males are territorial. When
threatened often run to hiding places among
rocks where they wedge themselves into
crevices. May also run a short distance,
then stop abruptly with tail raised, perhaps
confusing would-be attackers.
A favorite in the pet trade, this lizard has a
generally calm temperament.
Madagascar Plated Lizard
Zonosaurus sp. (Gerrhosauridae)
Plated Lizards
Distribution: Zonosaurus lizards comprise
a genus of 17 species of plated lizards, all
found in Magagascar and all but one (Z.
madagascarensis) endemic to that country.
Found in all ecoregions, they are common in
eastern Madagascar, but also known in the
west and south and on some offshore islands.
Habitat: A wide range of habitats in
Madagascar, depending on the species, from
montane rainforests to rocky crevices, to sand
dunes of the spiny desert. Normally found
in dry, open landscapes, they also adapt well
to field edges and secondary thickets. Even
found in the zsingy, the fantastic limestone
formations that create a “forest” of rocky spires
that harbor many rare animals.
Appearance: Plated lizards are medium-sized
(up to 36 cm) with an elongate, slightly flattened
body. A prominent lateral fold running
the length of the flank allows considerable
expansion of the body. The tail is almost twice
as long as the body. Ground color is brown,
with two yellow lateral stripes that run from
the eye to the base of the tail. The color of the
California Academy of Sciences
flanks is variable, but is usually mottled with
white and dark scales. Belly is grayish white,
but may be reddish on the throat.
Diet: Active diurnal foragers. Most species eat
a variety of insects, though some species also
seek fruits and berries.
Reproduction and Development: Internal
fertilization. The female lays a small clutch
(up to 5) of large, elongate eggs in moist soil
or within a rock crack.
Conservation Status: Some species and
subspecies are listed by IUCN: Vulnerable.
Remarks: One of the most unusual behaviors
of the plated lizards is that they sunbathe, or
bask, in an odd position. They lie on the belly
with their arms and legs held up in the air.
When frightened, which happens quite often
for this shy species, they quickly run for cover
under a bush or in some other hiding place
or bury themselves in loose soil by moving
their arms and legs as if they were swimming.
Sometimes they will stay underground for 24
hours before coming above ground again.
Relatively peaceable lizards, they rarely bite,
preferring instead to flail the spiked tail like a
whip, an effective defense.
Mexican Beaded Lizard
Heloderma horridum (Helodermatidae)
Gila Monsters
Distribution: Western coast of Sonora, Mexico
south to Western Guatemala.
Habitat: Tropical, deciduous woodland and
thornscrub. Frequently climbs trees. Often
diurnal, on very hot days remains in burrows
and emerges to hunt at night.
Appearance: Length to 1 m. Stout body covered
with dark brown and yellow beadlike
scales. Powerful limbs, long fat tail.
Diet: Young rodents, fledgling birds, eggs,
reptiles, arthropods. Chemosensorily locates
food with its forked tongue.
Reproduction and Development: Mating takes
place in spring. Copulation can last for nearly 1
hour. Female lays 8-10 leathery eggs and buries
them in shallow nests in sunny locations.
Conservation Status: Listed as Vulnerable by
IUCN. CITES Appendix II. Dry forest and desert
habitat loss is the greatest threat, followed
by collection by unscrupulous dealers and
hobbyists. Fully protected on paper: cannot be
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