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. They live in West Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Chelsiona has short limbs with a laterally compressed body, and small eye apertures and large ear openings. They have an average snout to vent length of 11.8cm, and average total length of 30cm.
Chelsonia is usually seen on the ground or in low level vegetation, and is slow moving. 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.
Genetic analysis shows that Chelsonia, along with the Thorny Devil, is a significantly older species than more recent desert agamids.