The name Chamaesaura, which means “creeping lizard”, is something of a misnomer, as these grassland specialists move with great speed and are capable of outpacing bushfires. This small group of highly modified lizards is undoubtedly the most atypical of the cordylid genera. Substantial reduction of the limbs, pectoral and pelvic girdles, and a greatly elongated tail, gives them a serpentine appearance and allows them to efficiently “swim” through foliage. Like all cordylines, Chamaesaura are viviparous, and are the most fecund members of the family, producing up to 17 offspring at a time. This reproductive strategy is thought to be an adaptation to life in fire-prone habitats (du Toit et al., 2003). They are capable of autotomising their tail, but do this less readily than other members of the family, as this greatly impedes their locomotive ability. Despite being limited to grasslands, Chamaesaura have a broad geographic range, with three species occurring in Southern Africa and widely separated subspecies (though these are most certainly valid species) occurring in the grasslands of Zambia, the Democratic republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Angola.