Latastia johnstonii

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.

Etymology

The specific name, johnstonii, is in honour of British explorer Harry Johnston.

Description

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 . The tail length is 65–75% of the total length.

Distribution and habitat

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 .

Ecology and behavior

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 .

References

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1907). "Descriptions of Two new African Lizards of the Genus Latastia". Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Seventh Series 19: 392–394. ("Latastia Johnstoni [sic]", new species, pp. 392–393).
• Broadley DG, (1991). "A check list of the reptiles of Tanzania, with synoptic keys". Syntarsus 1: 1–70. (Latastia johnstonii, p. 18).
• Loveridge A (1957). "Check List of the Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa (Uganda; Kenya; Tanganyika; Zanzibar)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 117 (2): 151–362. ("Latastia johnstoni [sic]", pp. 231–232).