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Ancestor: Central Catland Micro Lizard
Temporal Range:
Temporal Range:
Evolved: By 2 Myh
Extinct: Not yet.
Geographical Range:
Geographical Range:
Location: East Catland, South West from the dry grasslands to flood-washed grassy wetlands.
Viable Habitat: These lizards are found on all kinds of broad leaves, but their favourite type of leaves are grass. All species are found in open habitats, grassland mainly with a high density of grass clumps such that they form a continuous plain. Their range also includes grassy wetlands.
Size: 11cm - 20 cm
Dietary Needs: being such tiny lizards they hunt very tiny prey. They spend a lot of time with their bodies flattened to leaves or grass blades, licking or grabbing up any small invertebrate they happen across. Most of their diet is gnats, but they also eat beetle, moth and butterfly larvae, and sometimes the adult insects too.
They can stick their tongue out about one third the length of it's face. This may not seem like much, but it gives them a small amount of added reach with much less effort. It's also faster than lunging forward with their whole body, so the prey has less time to react. The saliva on the end of the tongue is thick and viscous enough to trap insects.
Life Cycle: Gestation is quite short so mating occurs in the late winter, right before spring. Reproduction can continue throughout the summer
Whether or not it gives live birth or lays it's offspring in a temporary egg sac depends on species. Dry grassland species lay their eggs in soft, malleable breathable egg sac. Hatching time varies depending on the environmental conditions present at the time of exit from their mother. In dry-air conditions the hatching is delayed, growth freezes and metabolism slows to the minimum needed for life support. Like this the infant can survive for up to two weeks without harm to their future development, in case the dry weather conditions last longer than expected. They immediately hatch when exposed to warm and humid or wet conditions.
Species that live in wetter climates such as in the warm temperate part of their range will give live birth. The egg sac is weak and breaks open inside the mother. This is so that in the case of floods the newborn lizards can swim immediately.
They typically produce around 40 offspring in one go. The infant lizards are fully independent but tiny, and only a few will reach adulthood.
Other: They have wide leaf-shaped toes. These toes can become flat or become tube-shaped due to action of muscles between the toe skeleton and scales. On rough surfaces the scales on the underside of the feet are erect and the toes more tubular, giving it roughness for traction. On smooth surfaces the scales are flat as can be and the toes flat and wide in shape, allowing the surface of the foot to make a seal with the smooth surface.
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