''Chalarodon'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of Malagasy terrestrial

iguania Iguania is an infraorder of squamate reptiles that includes iguanas, chameleons, agamids, and New World lizards like anoles and phrynosomatids. Using morphological features as a guide to evolutionary relationships, the Iguania are believed ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...

. It was considered a

monotypic genus In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

, until in 2015 a second species, '' Chalarodon steinkampi'', was recognised based on morphology and DNA sequence data. The common names of this genus include Chalarodon or Dangalia lizard. Its Malagasy relatives are the iguanians of the genus ''

Oplurus ''Oplurus'' is a genus of Malagasy iguanian lizards, most of which are rock-dwelling terrestrial species. The sister genus to ''Oplurus'' is ''Chalarodon'', which contains two species: '' Chalarodon madagascariensis'' and '' Chalarodon steink ...

''.

Species

Two species of ''Chalarodon'' exist:

Habitat

Members of this genus inhabit semi-arid to arid regions and almost entirely open, or very sparsely vegetated habitats with sandy soil in southern, western, and south eastern Madagascar.

Nutrition

The Madagascar sand lizards are

insectivores A robber fly eating a hoverfly An insectivore is a carnivorous animal or plant that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which can also refer to the human practice of eating insects. The first vertebrate insectivores were ...

. In addition to insects, sometimes plants are ingested, particularly in the form of leaves and roots.

Reproduction

During the mating season, males defend territories with threat displays and combat. Copulation is very brief, and females lay pairs of eggs between December and March.

References

Chalarodon Endemic fauna of Madagascar Reptiles of Madagascar Lizards of Africa Lizard genera Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters {{Lizard-stub