A genus of four East African lizards formerly included in the Algyroides or Lacerta genera. All seem to be forest-dwelling creatures. Only A. jacksoni seems to have been observed in the pet trade, which is fair enough as the other species seem to have restricted ranges and our knowledge of their ecology is still incomplete: A. jacksoni also seems to tolerate human encroachment more.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Adolfus | ||||
| A. africanus | Green-Bellied Forest Lizard/ Multi-Scaled Forest Lizard | Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo (except the west), S Cameroon | 8" | Lowland forest dwelling with distinctive lime-green ventrum. Click here for a picture and details. SKDA suggest that this species dwells primarily in undergrowth rather than being truly arboreal, and that it seems to prefer primary forest. It is found mainly in or around clearings where sunlight penetrates the forest, at elevations from 580-1200m. Dorsally A. africanus is a bronze colour (including the head): this dorsal band is flecked with black spots roughly from forelimbs to tailbase. The middorsal band is also edged by a longitudinal row of white spots, which become thin stripes on the tail. The sides of the body and head are a darker brown: some specimens have diffuse white spots along the ventrolateral border. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): nostril separated from 1st upper labial. Dorsal scales: rhombic with diagonal keels which converge towards the midline of the back, middorsal scale rows larger than those of flanks, 18-24 transverse rows at midbody. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows, median and outermost rows narrower, outermost ventral scale rows incomplete and faintly keeled. Other: 12-17 femoral pores beneath each thigh, 17-19 lamellae beneath 4th toe. Reproduction: no details yet available. |
| A. alleni | Allen's Forest Lizard/ Alpine-Meadow Lizard | Uganda, Kenya | 7¼" (18cm) | A. alleni has a restricted range, living at altitudes of 2,700-4,500m on several Ugandan and Kenyan mountains, usually in montane moorland above the treeline. It has only been confirmed from the Aberdare Mountains, Mt Kenya and Mt Elgon. Its natural habitat is alpine moorland and heather and Hagenia-Hypericum zones [SKDA]: individuals live in tussock grass or the spaces between. It is active throughout most of the day (about 9.30-5 [SKDA]). Prey certainly consists of beetles and their larvae and presumably other arthropods [SKDA]. This is a slim and long-tailed lacertid, although the tail takes up only two thirds of the total length. Overall it is brown or olive in colour, with two black-edged dorsolateral stripes that are either lime-green or red-brown [SKDA]. There is a broad or narrow dark vertebral stripe. The sides are brown or reddish and the venter bright orange, orange-pink or blue. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): nostril separated from 1st upper labial. Dorsal scales: lanceolate, strongly imbricate, 18-24 transverse rows at midbody. Temporal scales: 3-12. Collar: no granules beneath collar. Ventral scales: overlapping, 6 or more longitudinal rows, median and outermost rows narrower, outermost ventral scale rows incomplete and faintly keeled. Reproduction: oviparous: hatchlings 5-7cm: no other details yet available. |
| A. jacksoni | Jackson's Forest Lizard | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, E Democratic Republic of the Congo | 9½" (23½cm) | Formerly considered a member of the Lacerta genus, this is a distinctive-looking mud brown lizard covered in white ocelli which are outlined in dark brown/black. It apparently dwells on the periphery of forests in highland areas and is fairly common in some areas. Click here for a picture and details. SKDA suggest it may be less dependent upon primary forest conditions than A. africanus: they note also that it avoids closed canopy areas and is the most tolerant of the genus of human encroachment. The German site http://tropicfauna.de/Pages/Deutsch/Sonst.htm gives the following care recommendations: daily temperature of 28-34 deg C, dropping to 18-22 deg C at night: UV light: humidity of 60-80%: cage furniture for both hiding and climbing: diet of insects. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): nostril separated from 1st upper labial. Dorsal scales: smooth or faintly keeled, 37-48 transverse rows at midbody. Temporal scales: numerous small scales in temple region. Collar: 7-10 plates, numerous granules beneath collar. Ventral scales: 6 or more longitudinal rows: if only 6 then outermost ventral scale rows are complete and not keeled. Other: scales on the tail are strongly keeled and aligned in straight longitudinal rows. 22-26 lamellae beneath fourth toe, 15-21 femoral pores beneath each thigh. Coloration: dorsal brown to olive in broad band from top of head as far as tip of tail: band contains black spots or sometimes black dash-marks. Flanks much darker, occasionally blackish (higher elevation specimens), usually have several series of white or blue ocelli edged in black. Ventral surfaces vary from yellow to dull bluish, sometimes spotted. The photos in SKDA seem to imply a western and an eastern colour phase. Reproduction: females lay clutches of (usually) 3-5 eggs, often in communal nesting sites: no other details as yet available. |
| A. vauereselli | Sparse-Scaled Forest Lizard | W Uganda, W Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, C & E Democratic Republic of the Congo | 6-7" | Formerly considered a member of the Lacerta genus. This species dwells in forest clearings at higher altitudes than A. jacksoni and is more tolerant of cooler temperatures [SKDA]. Click here for a picture and details. SKDA suggest that in most ways its behaviour and ecology are similar to that of A. africanus, which it replaces in some areas at higher elevations (1,000-2,400m). Scalation details (as given in SKDA): nostril in contact with 1st upper labial. Dorsal scales: smooth, 38-50 transverse rows at midbody, middorsal scales larger than those on flanks. Temporal scales: numerous small scales in temple region. Collar: 6-11 plates. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows, outermost ventral scale rows incomplete and smooth. Other: 7-10 femoral pores beneath each thigh. Coloration: light yellow to copper-coloured in mid-dorsal band including top of head. Small dark spots on back, may form longitudinal mid-dorsal row. Flanks are rich reddish-brown edged with black above and 1-2 rows of white ocelli edged in black. Light streak from cheek to side of neck passes through ear opening. Reproduction: females lay clutches of (usually) 3-5 eggs, often in communal nesting sites: no other details as yet available. |
For bibliography please refer to main Lacertidae page.
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