Shovel-snouted Lizard
A species of Meroles Scientific name : Meroles anchietae Genus : Meroles
Shovel-snouted Lizard, A species of Meroles
Scientific name: Meroles anchietae
Genus: Meroles
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Chantelle Bosch , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
The shovel-snouted lizard or Anchieta's dune lizard (Meroles anchietae) is a species of lizard found in Namibia and Angola.
General Info
Lifespan
5-10 years
Diet
Shovel-snouted Lizard's dietary habits lean towards omnivorous intake, primarily consuming arthropods. This animal also exhibits an inclination towards plant food, especially seeds, which significantly contribute to its diet.
Appearance
Shovel-snouted Lizard is a small lizard with a streamlined body covered in hard scales. Their coloration is primarily sandy brown, blending perfectly into their arid environment. They possess long, thin legs with enlarged scales on the thighs and small crest-like rows of spines down their back. As a sexually dimorphic species, males have dark and dense blotches on their belly, unlike the females.
Behavior
Shovel-snouted Lizard exhibits a unique 'sidewinding' locomotion to traverse its hot, sandy environment, burying into the sand for cooling and security. This primarily insectivorous species is solitary, foraging independently for prey, and leaves characteristic tracks behind as it moves. Its numerous daily burrowing activities point toward a behavior likely adopted for thermo-regulation and predation prevention.
Population
Stable
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Wall lizards Genus
Meroles Species
Shovel-snouted Lizard 
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