Latastia johnstonii, also known commonly as Johnston's long-tailed lizard, the Malawi long-tailed lizard, and the Nyasaland long-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to East Africa.
The specific name, johnstonii, is in honor of British explorer Harry Johnston.[1]
L. johnstonii is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.[2]
The preferred natural habitats of L. johnstonii are grassland and savanna, at altitudes of .
L. johnstonii has keeled dorsal scales, which are arranged in 39–52 rows at midbody. The tail of juveniles is red, the color fading at adulthood. Adults have a total length (including tail) of . The tail length is 65–75% of the total length.
L. johnstonii is terrestrial, diurnal, and fast-moving.[3]
L. johnstonii preys upon invertebrates.[3]
L. johnstonii is oviparous.[2] Clutch size is three or four eggs, and each egg measures .[3]