Chelosania

Chelosania is a genus of agamid lizards that contains a single species, Chelosania brunnea. These are commonly known as the ring-tailed dragon or the Australian chameleon dragon.[2] They live in West Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.[3]

Chelosania
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Chelosania
Gray, 1845
Species:
C. brunnea
Binomial name
Chelosania brunnea
Gray, 1845

Chelsiona has short limbs with a laterally compressed body, and small eye apertures and large ear openings.[4] They have an average snout to vent length of 11.8 cm,[5] and average total length of 30 cm.[3]

Chelsonia is usually seen on the ground or in low level vegetation, and is slow moving.[3] Females lay eggs in burrows between July and August, with up to 8 eggs recorded. Chelsonia eats ants, and has been recorded eating Green Ants.[4]

Genetic analysis shows that Chelsonia, along with the Thorny Devil, is a significantly older species than more recent desert agamids.[4]

References
  1. Teale, R.; Melville, J.; Wilson, S.; Ellis, R. (2017). "Chelosania brunnea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T83410049A83453653. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T83410049A83453653.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Agamidae/Chelosania/brunnea
  3. "Chelosania brunnea". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  4. Melville, Jane; Wilson, Steve (2019). Dragon Lizards of Australia. Melbourne: Museums Victoria Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 978-1-921833-49-6.
  5.   Chelosania brunnea at the Australian Reptile Online Database. Last updated 2016-10-30 11:25:38. Retrieved from http://www.arod.com.au/arod/?species=Chelosania+brunnea on 17 April 2020


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