Chinese xenosaur
Chinese xenosaurs, commonly referred to as Chinese crocodile lizards, are unique semi-aquatic reptiles native to China, specifically belonging to the genus Shinisaurus within the family Xenosauridae. These lizards exhibit a viviparous reproductive strategy, giving birth to live young in litters ranging from four to seven. Typically found in rocky environments, hollow logs, and aquatic habitats like rivers and streams, Chinese xenosaurs alternate between land and water, which is reflected in their common name. Morphologically, they possess long, muscular legs with splayed toes and sharp claws, and their skin is scaly and leathery, displaying shades of brown, gray, or black that glisten when wet.
Dietarily, they are primarily insectivorous, foraging on land for insects such as winged ants, while also consuming tadpoles and small fish when in the water. Chinese xenosaurs are notable for being the only representatives of their family in Asia, as the other three species are located in Central America. They typically grow between four and six inches long, not including their tails, but their lifespan remains uncertain. This intriguing blend of terrestrial and aquatic adaptation makes the Chinese xenosaur a fascinating subject for herpetology enthusiasts and researchers alike.
Subject Terms
Chinese xenosaur
Chinese xenosaurs are also known as Chinese crocodile lizards. Like other xenosaurs, Chinese xenosaurs are semi-aquatic lizards. That means they spend part of their time on land and part of their time in water.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Xenosauridae
Genus: Shinisaurus
Species: Crocodilurus
Chinese xenosaurs begin their lives sometime between the late spring and mid-summer. Like other xenosaurs, Chinese xenosaurs are viviparous. That means they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs. The females give birth to litters of between four and seven young.
As their name suggests, Chinese xenosaurs live in China. They spend much of their time hiding between rocks, in hollow logs and trees, and in rivers and streams. Chinese xenosaurs are semi-aquatic. This means they spend part of their time on land and part of their time in water. Because of the way they wander in and out of the water, Chinese xenosaurs are sometimes called Chinese crocodile lizards. Chinese xenosaurs are the only xenosaurs in all of Asia. The other three species of xenosaurs live in Central America from eastern Mexico to Guatemala.
Chinese xenosaurs are mainly insectivorous, or insect-eating. They forage on land for insects, such as winged ants and other tasty bugs. When they are in water they adapt their diet to include tadpoles and small fish.
Chinese xenosaurs have scaly, leathery, brown, gray, or black skin that shines when it is wet. Like other lizards, they slough, or shed, their skin throughout their lives. Their legs are muscular and have long, splayed, or separated, toes with sharp claws. Their tails are about as long as their bodies and about as thick. Chinese xenosaurs grow to be between four and six inches (10 and 15 centimeters) long, not including their tails.
It is not known how long Chinese xenosaurs live.