Bradypodion Fitzinger 1843

Tilbury, Colin R., Tolley, Krystal A. & Branch, William R., 2006, A review of the systematics of the genus Bradypodion (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae), with the description of two new genera, Zootaxa 1363, pp. 23-38 : 34

Bradypodion Fitzinger 1843

Type Species: Chamaeleo pumilus Daudin 1802

Composition: B. caffer (Boettger) , B. damaranum , B. dracomontanum Raw, B. gutturale (Smith) , B. kentanicum (Hewitt) , B. melanocephalum , B. nemorale Raw, B. occidentale , B. pumilum , B. setaroi Raw, B. taeniabronchum , B. thamnobates Raw, B. transvaalense (Fitzsimons) , B. ventrale , and several as yet undescribed species ( Tolley et al. 2005; Branch et al. 2006).

Characterization: The monophyly of the South African Bradypodion is established by a suite of nuclear and mitochondrial genes and can also be defined by three characteristics, namely; independently derived viviparity and the associated pigmentation of the parietal peritoneum, and a specific cranial structure with a broad roof-like parietal (interpreted as a retained symplesiomorphy) bearing supra-temporal processes (interpreted as a secondary character reversal Rieppel & Crumley 1997). External morphological features that are common to all Bradypodion include the presence of heterogeneous background scalation, a midline gular crest consisting in most species of composite lobes and cones, and the absence of a ventral crest. Rostronasal processes are absent in all species. The hemipenes are calyculate with a plesiomorphic 4-rotulae apical ornamentation. All species are viviparous. The genus may also be characterized by lung morphology, comprising simple, adiverticulate, sac-like lungs with small ridge-like septae on the cephalic, dorsal and ventral walls and with an accessory gular pouch (Beddard 1997, Klaver 1973, 1881). However, not all Bradypodion species have been assessed.

Distribution: Restricted to South Africa, ranging into adjacent Swaziland, and possibly Lesotho and southern Mozambique, with introduced populations in Namibia, and occupying a wide variety of habitats.