Heliobolus lugubris, also known commonly as the bushveld lizard, mourning racerunner, or the black and yellow sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the familyLacertidae. The species is found in Southern Africa: southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, southwestern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, and south-central to northern South Africa.[1][3]
Juveniles of H. lugubris are black with light spots and move with a hunched gait, mimicking the appearance of Anthiaground beetles. This mimicry is thought to discourage predation, as the beetles spray formic acid as a defense mechanism and are thus less appealing targets for predators. This is one of very few recorded examples of a vertebrate mimicking an invertebrate.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abAlexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Heliobolus lugubris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T196975A147689194. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T196975A147689194.en. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN0-88359-042-5. (Heliobolus lugubris, p. 161 + Plate 57).
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heliobolus, lugubris, also, known, commonly, bushveld, lizard, mourning, racerunner, black, yellow, sand, lizard, species, lizard, family, lacertidae, species, found, southern, africa, southern, angola, namibia, botswana, southwestern, zimbabwe, southern, moza. Heliobolus lugubris also known commonly as the bushveld lizard mourning racerunner or the black and yellow sand lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae The species is found in Southern Africa southern Angola Namibia Botswana southwestern Zimbabwe southern Mozambique and south central to northern South Africa 1 3 Bushveld lizard adult and subadult Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Family Lacertidae Genus Heliobolus Species H lugubris Binomial name Heliobolus lugubris A Smith 1838 Synonyms Lacerta lugubris Smith 1838 2 Eremias lugubris Dumeril amp Bibron 1839Mimicry editJuveniles of H lugubris are black with light spots and move with a hunched gait mimicking the appearance of Anthia ground beetles This mimicry is thought to discourage predation as the beetles spray formic acid as a defense mechanism and are thus less appealing targets for predators This is one of very few recorded examples of a vertebrate mimicking an invertebrate 4 References edit a b Alexander G J Tolley K A 2021 Heliobolus lugubris IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T196975A147689194 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 2 RLTS T196975A147689194 en Retrieved 25 February 2023 Smith Andrew 1838 Contributions to the Natural History of Southern Africa Magazine of Natural History 2 93 Lacerta lugubris new species Heliobolus lugubris at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 25 February 2023 Huey RB Pianka ER January 1977 Natural selection for juvenile lizards mimicking noxious beetles Science 195 4274 201 203 Bibcode 1977Sci 195 201H doi 10 1126 science 831272 PMID 831272 Further reading editBranch Bill 2004 Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa Third Revised edition Second impression Sanibel Island Florida Ralph Curtis Books 399 pp ISBN 0 88359 042 5 Heliobolus lugubris p 161 Plate 57 nbsp This lizard from family Lacertidae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Heliobolus lugubris amp oldid 1183334375, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
