Red List of South African Species

Alternatively, Explore species
| National Red List categories | Partners |
Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Michael Bates Le Fras Mouton
Facilitators: Graham Alexander Krystal Tolley
Reviewers: Graham Alexander Adriaan Jordaan Paula Strauss Jody Taft Josh Weeber

Rationale (Changed due to Knowledge of criteria)

Although this species has a restricted distribution (extent of occurrence of 10,172 km2 ) and has experience some decline in habitat, it is not severely fragmented and there are no major threats. However, there does appear to be a continuing increase of alien plants within this species range. This, together with poor fire management may result in major threats in the future.

Distribution

Endemic to the Western Cape, South Africa, occurring at isolated localities along the western Cape Fold Mountain range, from the Piketberg Mountains and Piekenierskloof Pass in the north to the Hottentots-Holland Mountains in the south.

Population trend

Trend

No information on population size or trends is currently available, but it is inferred to be stable given that most of its distribution is at higher elevations where there is little anthropogenic impacts.

Threats

This high-elevation melanistic species is likely to be especially vulnerable to climate change due to upslope displacement (Janse van Rensburg et al. 2009). Other threats include alien infestation and poor fire management.

Uses and trade

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II, but has never been exported for pet trade under CITES. (UNEP-WCMC 2017).

Conservation

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in some protected areas. Control of alien infestation and effective fire management are the only conservation measures required at this point in time. Taxonomic studies are required to assess the status of the isolated subpopulations. A change in taxonomic status of some of the subpopulations would require a re-assessment of the conservation status of all taxa in the complex.

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}
}
,@electronic{3009,
 address = {https://trade.cites.org/},
 author = {UNEP-WCMC},
 title = {CITES Trade Database},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{5333,
 author = {Stanley, E.L., Bauer, A.M., Jackson, T.R., Branch, W.R. and Mouton, P. le F.N. },
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {53--70},
 title = {Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)},
 volume = {58},
 year = {2011}
}
,@article{110159854,
 author = {Mouton, P. le F.N. and Van Wyk, J.H.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Zoology},
 number = {1},
 pages = {31--38},
 title = {Taxonomic status of the melanistic forms of the <i>Cordylus cordylus</i> complex (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the south-western Cape, South Africa},
 volume = {25},
 year = {1990}
}
,@article{110159854,
 author = {Janse van Rensburg, D.A., Mouton, P. le F.N. and Van Niekerk, A.},
 journal = {Journal of Zoology},
 number = {4},
 pages = {333--341},
 title = {Why cordylid lizards are black at the south-western tip of Africa},
 volume = {278},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{110159854,
 author = {Daniels, S.R., Mouton, P. le F.N. and Du Toit, D.A.},
 journal = {Journal of Zoology, London},
 pages = {373--383},
 title = {Molecular data suggest that melanistic ectotherms at the south-western tip of Africa are the products of Miocene climatic events: evidence from cordylid lizards},
 volume = {263},
 year = {2004}
}
,]
Send feedback about this assessment to SANBI

Lead agencies, Partners and Funders

See the partners page