These are the rather unique Blue-Tailed Tree Lizards, the most arboreal of all lacertids. Until recently the genus was considered monotypic (H. guentheri, with two subspecies) but H. laevis was raised to species status by Broadley, and the German lacertid specialist Bischoff confirms this change.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Holaspis | ||||
| H. guentheri | Blue-Tailed Tree Lizard | Uganda, Tanzania, W Africa SW to Angola and NW to Sierra Leone | 4¾-5" | Small but unique lacertid in that it possesses gliding ability, jumping from tree to tree at distances of over 10m. Its flattened shape and striking coloration make this speciesi unmistakable. H. guentheri is found mainly in closed lowland forest: it may be found in more open woodland adjacent to forest and in some coastal forests, but does not tolerate deforestation [SDKA]. It is diurnal and arboreal, but does descend to the forest floor: loose bark provides hiding places. SDKA note that despite the striking coloration, in practice this is not an easy lizard to spot, nor to capture! The usual small invertebrates are taken as prey. The German site http://tropicfauna.de/Pages/Deutsch/Sonst.htm. gives the same care recommendations as for Adolfus jacksoni, although one might dispute whether such a still little-known lacertid is as suited for beginners as they claim. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): 80-90 midbody rows including 6 ventral. Collar is present. Other: 17-25 femoral pores beneath each thigh, single preanal plate. 2-3 translucent scales present in each lower eyelid. Long toes have ring of flattened scales. Coloration: dorsally black with two longitudinal and one lateral cream stripes plus one short cream stripe on top of head. Chest and limbs also cream, ventrum orange in males and orange-grey in females. Tail has row of bright blue scales forming transverse bands, underside of tail is black. Eye moderate size. Reproduction: 2 eggs laid under loose bark or in leaf litter. SKDA note that captive specimens from Tanzania laid eggs November-April, while captives from NE Democratic Republic of Congo laid eggs in June. It is not certain how many clutches per year are laid. Hatchlings are just under half adult size. |
| H. laevis | NE & E Tanzania, S to C Mozambique and W to S Malawi | |||
For bibliography please refer to main Lacertidae page.
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