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.