Shovel Snouted Lizard (Meroles anchietae) - KL

Amazing lizard dance & dive - Dune - BBC wildlife

Habitat

The shovel-snouted lizard lives in the Namib Desert of southwestern Africa

Features

It has an unusual flattened snout with a cutting edge and nostrils that point upwards, as well as enlarged feet that allow it to dash across the sand at high speed without sinking into the dunes.

Although they can withstand temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius, they perform a characteristic 'thermal dance' to avoid overheating, balancing on their tail & lifting two of their feet every 10 seconds to cool them.

When the shovel-snouted lizard is alarmed it dives into the dune slip-face. It will then swim as deep as need be to escape any danger, but will raise its body to jump and bite if necessary to protect itself if the hazard continues. It will also dive down if the surface temperature is too high, and can survive for 24 hours buried down under using air trapped in the sand. The streamlined shape of its nose helps it to penetrate the sand.

It also has a special water bladder, a blind tube branching off from its intestine. There it stores a large reserve of water, obtained by drinking when fog settles on cold nights along the coast of Namibia.

Diet

Small beetles and insects and in times of desert famine they will eat seeds. All of their moisture requirements are obtained from food.

Appearance

An upper sand-colored body with an arrangement of black marks that reach to the limbs. The head is paler than the body and emits a silvery sheen.

Breeding

Shovel snouted lizards defend their territory vigorously high into the reproductive season. Luckily for them there is no fixed breeding season either and eggs are laid at regular intervals, peaking during December to March. Females lay a single egg in a small chamber that has been dug firmly into the sand