Oplurus cyclurus

Oplurus cyclurus, also known commonly as the Madagascar swift and Merrem's Madagascar swift, is a species of lizard in the family Opluridae. The species is endemic to Madagascar.^[3] It is arboreal and mostly insectivorous. Its breeding is timed with the rainy season.

Oplurus cyclurus
In Reserve Reniala, Madagascar
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Opluridae
Genus:	Oplurus
Species:	O. cyclurus
Binomial name
Oplurus cyclurus (Merrem, 1820)
Synonyms[2]
Uromastyx cyclurus Merrem, 1820 Oplurus maximiliani A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1837 Doryphorus maximiliani — Fitzinger, 1843 Tropidurus cyclurus — Gray, 1845 Hoplurus cyclurus — W. Peters, 1882 Oplurus cyclurus — Savage, 1952

Description

Oplurus cyclurus is similar in appearance to Oplurus cuvieri; the two species may be easily confused.

Oplurus cyclurus is slightly smaller than Oplurus cuvieri. Both species have a distinctive large spiny tail, and neither has a dorsal crest. Oplurus cyclurus has a dark brown or black band around the neck and similar paler markings on its back.

Behavior, habitat, and geographic range

O. cyclurus is mostly arboreal, living in the spiny forests of southern and southwestern Madagascar.^[1]

Reproduction

O. cyclurus is oviparous.^[2]