Madagascar girdled lizard

The Madagascar girdled lizard, also known as the Madagascar plated lizard, is a fascinating reptile from the Gerrhosauridae family. Native to Madagascar, some nearby islands, and the Seychelles, these lizards thrive in various habitats. They can be found in open and degraded humid forests at mid and low altitudes, as well as in plantations and open shrublands on Cosmoledo Island. These lizards are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs and can grow up to 30 cm in length.

The evolutionary history of these lizards is particularly intriguing. The Gerrhosauridae family shares strong evolutionary connections with species found in Asia and South America. It is believed that the ancestors of these lizards arrived in Madagascar by "rafting" from the African mainland. On the island, Malagasy plated lizards are divided into two genera: Tracheloptychus, which has two species in the subarid south and southwest regions, and Zonosaurus, which includes 17 species found across various biomes in Madagascar.

Initially, scientists thought that Zonosaurus was closely related to Tracheloptychus based on morphological characteristics. However, genetic analysis using DNA samples and PCR techniques revealed a different evolutionary lineage.

There are also recognized subspecies of the Madagascar girdled lizard, such as Zonosaurus madagascariensis insulanus, found on Cosmoledo and Grande Glorieuse. These subspecies classifications help scientists understand the diversity and distribution of the species across different regions.