Adolfus

Adolfus is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to subsaharan Africa.^[2][3]

Adolfus
Adolfus africanus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Lacertidae
Subfamily:	Lacertinae
Genus:	Adolfus Sternfeld, 1912[1]

Male of Adolfus jacksoni

Male of Adolfus africanus

Etymology

The generic name, Adolfus, is in honor of German explorer Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg.^[4]

Description

Adolfus are typically relatively large lacertids measuring 55–84 mm (2.2–3.3 in) in snout–vent length (SVL),^[3] except for the much smaller Adolfus masavaensis measuring only 39–56 mm (1.5–2.2 in).^[5] The tail is cylindrical, without lateral fringes, and relatively long, about 1.7–2 times SVL. There is no sexual dimorphism. Based on Adolfus jacksoni, the clutch size is 3–5 eggs.^[3]

Habitat

Adolfus inhabit forest, forest clearings, and grasslands. A. jacksoni inhabits also urban environments. Adolfus alleni has been recorded as high as 4,500 m (14,800 ft) above sea level.^[3]

Species

The following species are recognized as being valid:^[2]

• Adolfus africanus (Boulenger, 1906)
• Adolfus alleni (Barbour, 1914)
• Adolfus jacksoni (Boulenger, 1899)
• Adolfus kibonotensis (Lönnberg, 1907)
• Adolfus masavaensis Wagner, Greenbaum & Branch, 2014
• Adolfus mathewsensis Greenbaum, Dowell-Beer, Hughes, Wagner, Anderson, Villanueva, Malonza, Kusamba, Muninga, Aristote & Branch, 2018

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Adolfus.