Meroles knoxii

Meroles knoxii, also known commonly as Knox's desert lizard and Knox's ocellated sand lizard, is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Meroles knoxii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Meroles
Species:	M. knoxii
Binomial name
Meroles knoxii (Milne-Edwards, 1829)
Synonyms[2]
Eremias knoxii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) Lacerta knoxii Milne-Edwards, 1829 Scapteira knoxii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) Scaptira knoxii (Milne-Edwards, 1829) Scaptira knoxii pequensis Hewitt, 1935

Etymology

The specific name, knoxii, is in honor of Scottish anatomist Robert Knox.^[3]

Description

Adults of M. knoxii usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5–6.5 cm (2.2–2.6 in). The ear openings are visible. The toes are slightly fringed. Dorsally, the body is brownish, with a striped and spotted pattern. Ventrally, it is bluish gray to cream-colored, except during breeding season when males have a bright yellow chin, throat, and anal region.^[4]

Geographic range

M. knoxii occurs in Namibia and South Africa.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of M. knoxii is shrubland.^[1]

Behavior

M. knoxii is terrestrial,^[1] diurnal, and active, dashing across sandy soil from shrub to shrub.^[4]

Diet

M. knoxii preys upon beetles, flies, and other insects.^[4]

Reproduction

M. knoxii is oviparous.^[2]