Latastia


Latastia is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. Species of this genus are distributed in Africa but one subspecies lives in Yemen. Collectively, they are known as long-tailed lizards.

Etymology

named this genus in honor of French herpetologist Fernand Lataste.

Diagnosis

Species of Latastia are medium to large-sized lacertids with long cylindrical tails. The unregenerated tail is up to 3.2 times longer than head and body. Eyes with movable lids. The nostril is surrounded by 3-5 scales and usually reaches the first supralabial. The collar is well marked. Ventral plates smooth and in 6 longitudinal series. The dorsal scales are homogenous, small and granular or imbricate. There are no expanded scales along the mid-back line as in Philochortus. Femoral pores are present on the inside of the thighs, more prominent in males. Tail base in males much broader than in females.

Habitat and natural history

Most long-tailed lizards of the genus Latastia inhabit well vegetated sandy or gravelly plains and large wadis in western and eastern Africa. They can be found in semidesert scrubland and deciduous Acacia-Commiphora bushland where scrubby undergrowth is plentiful, in moist savanna and high grassland or in millet fields. Latastia boscai boscai and L. b. burii are known to occur in stony and rocky localities. Species of Latastia are distributed from sea level to 2000 m altitude.
They are diurnal, heliophilous and terrestrial, extremely wary fast-running lacertids which wander over large territories but forage mostly within vegetation cover during the heat of the day. They dart out into the sun to capture insects and other arthropods, after which they retreat into shady areas beneath bushes. All species lay eggs but clutch details are known only for L. longicaudata. The population in Senegal produces clutches of 5-7 eggs between July and September while females of L. l. revoili in southeastern Kenya lay only 3-4 eggs/clutch. Hatchlings appear during the wet season.

Species

The genus is composed of 10 recognized species. Subspecies are described for Latastia boscai, L. doriai, and L. longicaudata.
Latastia petersiana is the new name for Latastia carinata.
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Latastia.