Gastropholis prasina

Green Keel-bellied Lizard

A green silhouette stretches along a branch, almost part of the foliage.

Reference photo, not the individual on display. Credits appear below.

Care commitment Plan for adult size

Habitat Branches & cover

Visiting Watch quietly

Meet your new acquaintance

Nickname Canopy Climber

Diurnal and arboreal

Species highlights

A tail that can grip

Follow the tail during a branch crossing. While a forefoot changes support, tail contact can help maintain stability. “Fifth hand” is a metaphor for coordinated support, not another arm.

Contact changes with branch size and movement stage, so neither a straight-tail photograph nor one curl explains the whole ability.

Looking beyond green colour to belly scales, toes and successive support points reveals how the complete body uses a tree.

Feature sources:

California Academy of Sciences · Gastropholis prasina

At a glance

Here the name refers specifically to Gastropholis prasina, a lacertid from coastal forests of eastern Africa, rather than a skink or monitor. A green body, slender toes and a very long tail outline its life among vegetation. The belly scales are distinctly keeled.

Forest supports differ in thickness, height and direction. Limbs and a long prehensile tail adjust contact as weight moves between them.

This day-active, egg-laying animal hunts small prey. Green colour and keeled belly scales explain familiar names, but the scientific name connects those clues to a particular lacertid rather than any green skink or monitor.

Common names Green Keel-bellied Lizard

Scientific name Gastropholis prasina

Native rangeSoutheastern Kenya and northeastern Tanzania

Adult sizeAbout 35–45 cm total length; much of it is tail

ActivityDiurnal and arboreal

Diet Offer varied, appropriately sized, gut-loaded insects with calcium and vitamins coordinated with lighting. Tree-dwelling habits and green colour do not imply a fruit- or leaf-based staple diet.

Habitat & care

Use a tall, planted enclosure with connected branches, UVB, a local basking area and shade. Allow airflow after misting.

Values guide routine care, not breeding or brumation. Dimensions are length × width × height for one adult unless stated otherwise; larger animals need more space.

TemperatureLocal warm area 30–32°C Background air 21–25°C; night 18–20°C. For Gastropholis prasina, not other lizards called emerald.

Humidity60–70% Measure mid-enclosure away from mist outlets; let leaves dry between mistings and maintain airflow.

LightingUVB UVI 3–4 Measure UVI at the animal’s back height and provide full shade; lamp, distance and mesh all affect the reading.

Space90×45×90 cm Recommended starting size; connect climbing routes at different heights, add cover and allow safe lamp clearance.

Look a little closer

Where naturally visible, find the keeled belly scales, then trace the long tail for a branch grip. Follow a foot through release, reach and renewed contact. At the same time, watch whether the tail remains anchored before moving to a new position.

Care note: Let it retreat behind foliage when it wants cover.

About this profile

Gastropholis prasina is a lacertid lizard, distinct from the emerald tree monitor and emerald tree skink.

Profile status: Reference profile · Reviewed 2026-10-20

References (6)

Photo: JSutton93 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons，resized for display · Original image, credit and licence

Behaviour notes describe the species, not a promise about every individual. These care notes introduce its needs; ask our team about the animal on display and any supervised encounters.