Duméril's Madagascar Swift

Oplurus quadrimaculatus

''Oplurus quadrimaculatus'', the Duméril's Madagascar Swift or Madagascar spotted spiny-tailed iguana, is a terrestrial malagasy iguana belonging to the family Opluridae.
Dumeril's Madagascar Swift at Isalo NP This lizard has a positively ridiculous name - you think that it is a bird when you first see it. What is distinctive about this lizard close-up, are the tiny red points that you can see on the neck and shoulder. I assumed that these were ticks when I first looked at the picture but sniffing around the internet has me tending more to mites. Any brilliant ideas? Duméril's Madagascar Swift,Fall,Geotagged,Isalo National Park,Madagascar,Oplurus quadrimaculatus

Appearance

''Oplurus quadrimaculatus'' can reach a length of 25–39 centimetres . This iguana is greyish, with a spotted back and tail and legs covered with enlarged, spinous scales. It spends hours basking in sunlight. It is mainly insectivorous. Mating lasts just a few seconds and the eggs are laid in sheltered areas.
Oplurus quadrimaculatus Madagascar, Isalo Duméril's Madagascar Swift,Geotagged,Madagascar,Oplurus quadrimaculatus,Spring

Distribution

This species is endemic to Madagascar. It can be found from the central areas up to the south of the country, at an elevation up to 2,050 metres above sea level.
Dumerils Swift - A lizard not a bird despite the name  Another view of this strangely named lizard - it is neither a swift (bird) nor a true iguana. Duméril's Madagascar Swift,Geotagged,Isalo National Park,Madagascar,Oplurus quadrimaculatus,Spring

Habitat

''Madagascar spotted spiny-tailed iguana'' lives on loamy slopes, clay expanses and large rocks in various environment, from the arid regions in dry spiny forests to northern wetlands and humid areas close to the rainforest and in shrubland.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyOpluridae
GenusOplurus
SpeciesO. maculatus
Photographed in
Madagascar