From Madagascar with love: Iguanas

The iguanas are lizards from the New World, but Madagascar is once again an exception. On our island we find several iguana species of the Opluriday family and the smallest family member is newcomer at Zazamalala. We don’t know where it came from, but suddenly they are everywhere: small vivid lizards named Three-eyed lizard, Dangalia (in Malagasy language) or Chalarodon madagascariensis. It prefers sandy soil in dry rocky areas and perhaps that’s why it formerly did not occur in Zazamalala. Interestingly, they are active throughout the dry season and do not hibernate during summer like their Spiny-tail iguana cousin.