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The emperor flat lizard or imperial flat lizard (''Platysaurus imperator'') is a species of lizard in the
Females and juveniles are black and have three light cream stripes, which are yellow on the head, running down the lizard's back. The middle stripe is narrow and broken near the rear, and the tail is straw-colored. The throat is white, while the belly is mainly black.
Adult males have a yellow head and a dark red body with several large, whitish spots anteriorly. These pale spots are yellowish near the tail. The limbs are black, while the throat is dark red with a thick black collar. The chest is reddish or yellowish while the tail is orange to light yellow below. Like the females and juveniles, the belly is black.
This '' Platysaurus'' is the largest of its kind, with males reaching 146 mm. The common flat lizard, '' Platysaurus intermedius'', is closely related, but the emperor flat lizard is easily distinguishable by its large size and striking colors.
More Information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2110601 Platysaurus Reptiles of Zimbabwe Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles described in 1962 Taxa named by Donald George Broadley
Cordylidae
Cordylidae is a family of small- to medium-sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa. They are commonly known as girdled lizards, spinytail lizards, or girdle-tail lizards.
Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae ...
family.
Description
Females and juveniles are black and have three light cream stripes, which are yellow on the head, running down the lizard's back. The middle stripe is narrow and broken near the rear, and the tail is straw-colored. The throat is white, while the belly is mainly black.
Adult males have a yellow head and a dark red body with several large, whitish spots anteriorly. These pale spots are yellowish near the tail. The limbs are black, while the throat is dark red with a thick black collar. The chest is reddish or yellowish while the tail is orange to light yellow below. Like the females and juveniles, the belly is black.
This '' Platysaurus'' is the largest of its kind, with males reaching 146 mm. The common flat lizard, '' Platysaurus intermedius'', is closely related, but the emperor flat lizard is easily distinguishable by its large size and striking colors.
Geography
The emperor flat lizard's range is northeasternZimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and ...
and the adjacent part of Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
. Its habitat is mesic savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
. These lizards will often live on top of boulders on hills.
Habits
A large male emperor flat lizard and several attendant females command the tops of huge boulders on hills, where they feed on beetles, grubs, andants
Ants are Eusociality, eusocial insects of the Family (biology), family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the Taxonomy (biology), order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from Vespoidea, vespoid wasp ancestors in the Creta ...
. Emperor flat lizards have been documented living up to fourteen years.
Breeding
Clutches of two eggs are laid in the summer. These eggs are large, with dimensions of 27 mm long by 12 mm wide.Conservation
Emperor flat lizards are threatened by over-collecting for the pet trade.See also
*'' Platysaurus'' *Cordylidae
Cordylidae is a family of small- to medium-sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa. They are commonly known as girdled lizards, spinytail lizards, or girdle-tail lizards.
Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae ...
References
External links
More Information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2110601 Platysaurus Reptiles of Zimbabwe Reptiles of Mozambique Reptiles described in 1962 Taxa named by Donald George Broadley