Smallish genus of desert-dwelling lacertids characterised as follows: fine, granular dorsal scales; well-developed collar; subocular does not touch lip; no window in lower eyelid; feet well developed, often with fringed toes; femoral pores usually present. Virtually all of the details concerned individual species have been taken from Branch.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Meroles | ||||
| M. anchietae | Shovel-Snouted Lizard | W Namibia northwards as far as SW Angola. | SVL 45-55 mm | Formerly considered the separate species Aporosaurus anchietae, this species was assigned instead to the Meroles genus in 1989 (see the EMBL database entry for details). In appearance it is easily distinguished by its flattened snout, which has a sharp cutting edge. Found usually among sandhills; like some North African skink species, these lizards can swim deep into sand and at night sleep below its surface. (This may also account for the upwards-pointing nostrils). They can move rapidly across the sand due at least partly to the fringes on their toes. They are tolerant of high temperatures, up to 44 deg C: to avoid overheating, they perform a manouver of raising feet on opposing sides alternately (this is also seen in some other desert-dwelling lizard species). Diet consists of beetles, other small insects and, during dry periods, seeds. Click here and scroll down for a picture. Scalation details: nostrils pierced between 3 nasals; subocular does not border lip; lower eyelids scaly; collar and femoral pores are both lacking. Other: toes have obvious fringe of large scales: tail narrows rapidly from a wide base. Coloration: dorsally sand-coloured with a network of black marks that extends onto the flanks and limbs; head is paler with a silvery sheen; vertebral broken black stripe may extend as far back as the tail base; tail may have a few black crossbands. Ventrally white. Reproduction: Breeding seems to occur throughout the year, although peaks during December-March. Males are territorial and defend territories including up to 4-5 females. A single egg is laid in a chamber in a dune: females may lay 3-4 times per year. After good rains a clutch of 2 eggs may be laid. Hatchlings are relatively large. Females at least reach sexual maturity rapidly, in about 4-6 months: this may imply a shortish lifespan, in common with some other small lacertid species. |
| M. ctenodactylus | Smith's Desert Lizard | SW Namibia, S Africa (Little Namaqualand) | SVL 70-90 mm | One of the largest species in the genus, distinguishable by its size and flattened wedge-shaped snout. Habitat is vegetated coastal dunes and sandy plains. Behaviour is similar to that of M. anchietae, ie they use the sand as shelter for both escaping and sleeping. They are "sit-and-wait" predators, sheltering in vegetation. Scalation details: supranasals in contact; 78-92 scale rows at midbody; 22-26 rows of ventral plates; 27-38 femoral pores on each thigh. The ear is covered with a fold of skin. Coloration: variable. Dorsally may be greyish fawn, orange-brown or russet-brown, and is sometimes densely speckled with dark brown to black. Dorsolateral yellowish-white stripe with dark edges runs from ear to tail base; below this is another broad, greyish to dark-brown lateral stripe which may have white and yellow spots, and below this, a yellow lateral stripe. Limbs have large yellow-white spots; belly is white or pale yellow. Juveniles are orange-brown. Reproduction: approximately 6 eggs laid. |
| M. cuneirostris | Wedge-Snouted Lizard | SW Namibia (Richtersveld to Walvis Bay) | SVL 45-58 mm | The range of this species is south of that of M. reticulatus. Formerly considered a member of the (sub)genus Scapteira by some. Distinguishable by flattened wedge-shaped snout and conspicuous serrated fringe on toes. M. cuneirostris lives in sparsely vegetated desert and coastal dunes. It is a fast mover. Diet varies seasonally, mainly adult beetles in the summer and termites and other small insects in the winter. They hunt mainly in the cooler morning and evening. Branch notes an interesting aspect of their behaviour is waiting next to ant paths and robbing passing ants of their own insect prey. Scalation details: supranasals not in contact; nasals swollen; 90-110 scales rows at midbody; 24-30 ventral rows; 18-24 femoral pores on each thigh; ear opening covered with fold of skin. Coloration: overall, matches sand colour; dorsally greyish, sand-coloured or reddish-brown with pale spots (these may be absent) and dark flecks. The male dorsal pattern is more reticulated. Pale dorsolateral stripe runs from eye to tail. Lateral skin folds and upper lip may be orange. Belly is white. Reproduction: apparently no distinct breeding season. 2-4 eggs laid in soft sand up to 60cm below the surface. |
| M. knoxii | Knox's Desert Lizard | South Africa (W Cape province, Great Namaqualand) and adjacent SW Namibia | SVL 55-68 mm | Distinguished by rounded snout without sharp edge. Specimens from the Cape Peninsula are usually smaller. Habitat is usually coastal dunes or succulent karroid veld. They are active and diurnal fast movers, preying mainly on beetles and flies plus other small insects. Shelter is a burrow dug benath a bush or else under refuse. Scalation details: supranasals in contact; dorsal scales smooth in northern populations, weakly keeled in others, 54-78 rows at midbody; 10-12 ventral rows; 13-22 femoral pores on each thigh; ear openings lobed and visible; small fringe on toes. Coloration: variable; dorsally red-brown (paler in coastal populations) with dark dorsolateral stripe that may be broken into a series of partially white-edged black spots; flanks are grey with a series of yellowish or brownish spots or circles. Limbs may have numerous pale spots; belly is white or bluish-grey. Reproduction: breeding males are bright yellow on lower head, throat and anal region. Clutch size varies: the smaller lizards of the Cape Peninsula lay 2-3 eggs, larger lizards of Namaqualand may lay up to 6. Juveniles are dark brown to black with five white stripes and scattered white spots. |
| M. micropholidotus | Small-Scaled Desert Lizard | Namibia (coast desert north of Lüderitz) | SVL 55-68 mm | Characterised by flattened wedge-shaped snout and serrated fringe on toes. The common name derives from the dorsal scales, which are smooth and very small. The species lives in sparsely vegetated desert. Like some others of this genus, M. micropholidotus uses sand as cover for escape and when sleeping. Scalation details: supranasals in contact; nasals not swollen; dorsal scales in 126-138 rows at midbody; 24-28 ventral rows; 17-20 femoral pores on each thigh; ear opening covered with fold of skin. Coloration: dorsally light grey, with indistinct network of dark blue-grey which extends onto the limbs; belly is yellowish-white. Reproduction: no details available. |
| M. reticulatus | Reticulated Desert Lizard | C Namibia northwards to SW Angola | SVL 45-55 mm | The range of this species is confined to the coastal strip. In the past it has also been known as Scapteira reticulata or Eremias serripes: see EMBL database entry for details. It has a pointed snout with a weak edge along the upper lip. They live in sparsely vegetated coastal desert and forage for insects on sand dunes or on granite bedrock. With this species, not only sand but also rock flakes are used for cover or shelter. Branch notes that crows are reportedly a major predator. Scalation details: supranasals in contact; 50-56 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 16-18 ventral rows; 19-23 femoral pores on each thigh; ear openings are lobed and visible; toes have conspicuous serrated fringe. Coloration: dorsally grey to blue-grey, speaeckled with paler and darker greys that may form a dense network. Belly is white. Reproduction: no data available. |
| M. suborbitalis | Spotted Desert Lizard | S Africa (NW Cape province), S Namibia and Botswana | SVL 55-71 mm | The Botswana area of this species' range is confined to isolated pockets in the Namib desert. It is distinguished by a rounded snout that has no sharp edge on the upper lip. Habitat varies from arid savannah to desert: the lizards live on flat gravel or sandy plains with scattered bush. They are sit-and-wait predators, living on bees, beetles, grasshoppers and termites. Scalation details: supranasals not in contact; 60-75 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 12-14 ventral rows; 14-20 femoral pores on each thigh; ear opening lobed and visible; toes slightly fringed. Coloration: extremely variable, as a rule matching the ground colour of their environment. In the south of the range, the dark stripes of adults develop light brown centres with age and the back becomes grey-brown and covered with large pale spots that may form rows. Adults from the Namib desert are slate-coloured with a pinkish sheen and with irregular rows of dark pale-edged spots. The belly is creamy white or bluish. Reproduction: variable. In the Kalahari it takes place in early winter; females lay two clutches, each of 4-8 eggs, per season. In the central Namib desert it appears to continue throughout the year. Femles lay clutches of 3-7 eggs. Juveniles are dorsally pale yellow-white with four black stripes and a black network enclosing large pale spots on the limbs. As the young take up to three years to mature, this would imply that Meroles suborbitalis is a more long-lived animal than some of the other smaller lacertids. |
For bibliography please refer to main Lacertidae page.
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