Shovel-snouted Lizard

Fascinating facts about the Shovel-snouted Lizard

• Its common name includes "Namib sand-diver", a reference to the lizard's close association with the shifting dunes of the Namib Desert. It is also called Anchieta's desert lizard and Anchieta's dune lizard, reflecting its broader regional identity. The species lives in southern Africa, with confirmed records in both Angola and Namibia, linking its name to the landscape it inhabits.
• It inhabits the Namib's wind-blown dunes, thriving from sea level up to 500 m altitude. The lizard prefers true desert environments where aeolian sand dunes dominate and vegetation is sparse.
• It feeds on green, unripe seeds, a habit that is considered herbivory rather than granivory. In addition to seeds, the lizard preys on insects, especially small beetles, and also consumes fresh plant material. Some individuals have been observed to eat seeds occasionally, while others rely on seeds exclusively, showing dietary flexibility within the desert ecosystem.
• The specific name anchietae commemorates Portuguese naturalist José Alberto de Oliveira Anchieta, an early explorer of Africa. This tribute links the lizard's identity to the history of African discovery. The species itself is native to southern Africa, with confirmed records in both Angola and Namibia, reflecting the region that Anchieta once explored.

Sources

Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.

• Wikipedia

At a glance

About the Shovel-snouted Lizard

The Shovel-snouted Lizard lives on the scorching sand dunes of the Namib, one of the driest and hottest deserts on Earth. When the sand surface reaches 70°C, it performs a distinctive 'thermal dance', raising alternating front and back feet and lifting its tail and belly off the sand to survive long enough to reach shade.

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