SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Although the species is rarely encountered, it occurs over a fairly wide range in rocky habitats that do not appear to be significantly impacted by anthropogenic habitat transformation hence it is assessed here as Least Concern. However, afforestation in the northern parts of the range has almost certainly destroyed or altered some habitat.

Distribution

Endemic to South Africa and Eswatini [Swaziland]. Found from central Limpopo Province, South Africa, in the north, southwards through Mpumulanga Province and Eswatini, reaching northern KwaZulu-Natal Province (Bates et al. 2014).

Decline

The isolated nature of the rocky habitats inhabited by this species is likely to result in the species distribution being fragmented, but not severely.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

No information on population size is currently available, but the population is inferred to be stable.

Threats

There appear to be few threats facing this species. Habitat transformation by mining and use of land for exotic plantations may be a threat but probably rarely affects the rocky outcrops that this species inhabits (Bates et al. 2014).

Uses and trade

This species is not utilized.

Conservation

The range of the species coincides with some protected areas. This species is rarely encountered so additional information on its distribution and habits would allow for a more informed assessment.

References

[@electronic{181632,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
 year = {2018}
}
,@book{612,
 address = {Pretoria},
 author = {Bates, M.F., Branch, W.R., Bauer, A.M., Burger, M., Marais, J., Alexander, G.J. and de Villiers, M.S.},
 publisher = {Suricata 1. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2014}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@techreport{5336,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {Jacobsen, N.H.G.},
 institution = {Chief Directorate of Nature and Environmental Conservation},
 title = {The distribution and conservation status of reptiles and amphibians in the Transvaal. Final Report Project TN 6/4/1/30},
 year = {1989}
}
,@article{11229,
 author = {Kelly, C.M.R., Branch, W.R., Broadley, D.G., Barker, N.P and Villet, M.H.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution},
 number = {3},
 pages = {415--426},
 title = {Molecular systematics of the African snake family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes: Elapoidea), with particular focus on the genera <i>Lamprophis</i> Fitzinger 1843 and <i>Mehelya</i> Csiki 1903},
 volume = {58},
 year = {2011}
}
,@article{11229,
 author = {Schaefer, N.},
 journal = {Annals of the Cape Provincial Museums (Natural History)},
 number = {14},
 pages = {205--208},
 title = {A new species of house snake from Swaziland, with notes on the status of the two genera <i>Lamprophis</i> and <i>Boaedon</i>},
 volume = {8},
 year = {1970}
}
,@article{11229,
 author = {Visser, J.},
 journal = {Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa},
 pages = {31--37},
 title = {Notes on two rare house snakes - Part 2. The generic status of <i>Lamprophis fiskii</i> Boulengeri (1887) and <i>Lamprophis swazicus</i> Schaefer (1970)},
 volume = {21},
 year = {1979}
}
,@article{11229,
 author = {Vidal, N., Branch, W.R., Pauwels, O.S.G., Hedges, S.B., Broadley, D.G., Wink, M., Cruaud, C., Joger, U. and Nagy Z.T.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 pages = {51--66},
 title = {Dissecting the major African snake radiation: A molecular phylogeny of the Lamprophiidae Fitzinger (Serpentes, Caenophidia)},
 volume = {1945},
 year = {2008}
}
,]

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