Takydromus
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| Takydromus | |
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| Takydromus tachydromoides | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Takydromus Daudin, 1802 |
Takydromus, commonly called grass lizards or oriental racers is a lizard genus whose members inhabit a large part of Asia. Members of this genus are noticeable because of their slender appearance and their agile movements. The word takydromus derives from Greek ταχυδρόμος (takhudromos), "fast-running",[1][2] from ταχύς (takhus), "swift"[3] + δρόμος (dromos), "course, race".[4]
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[edit] Description
Members of this genus are extremely slender in appearance. The tail is about 2 to 5 times as long as the snout-vent length. The basic colour is normally brown, often with lateral stripes and dark spots. The dorsal scales are keeled and large. These keels form continuous longitudinal rows. The toes contain lamellae. The collar may be reduced or completely absent.
[edit] Distribution and habitat
This lizard genus is found in Japan, in the Amur region and throughout entire eastern Asia to Indonesia. These lizards are mainly terrestrial although some species can be found on trees. Some members of this genus are found both on rocks and in relatively damp forests. Other species inhabit open grasslands.
[edit] Reproduction
Females of Takydromus spp lay 1-10 eggs per clutch and up to 6 clutches per year.
[edit] Classification
The genus Takydromus belongs to the lizard subfamily Lacertinae tribe Lacertini, and contains the following species:
- Takydromus amurensis
- Takydromus dorsalis
- Takydromus formosanus
- Takydromus hani
- Takydromus haughtonianus
- Takydromus hsuehshanensis
- Takydromus intermedius
- Takydromus khasiensis
- Takydromus kuehnei
- Takydromus sauteri
- Takydromus septentrionalis
- Takydromus sexlineatus
- Takydromus smaragdinus
- Takydromus stejnegeri
- Takydromus sylvaticus
- Takydromus tachydromoides
- Takydromus toyamai
- Takydromus wolteri
[edit] References
- ^ Takydromus, A Guide to the lizards of Borneo
- ^ ταχυδρόμος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ ταχύς, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ δρόμος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
