SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Fairly widespread, and common in at least some areas such as Maputaland (see Bruton and Haacke 1980). The species has no major threats and is assessed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Endemic to Eswatini [Swaziland] and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Occurs at several localities along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, but with a concentration of sites in the northern part of the province, including Maputaland (Bourquin 2004, Bates et al. 2014). The southernmost record in KwaZulu-Natal is in the Port Edward area (Bourquin 2004), but a National Museum specimen (NMB R209, identity verified; see also FitzSimons 1943) from 'Pondoland Coast' (too vague to map) extends the species' range into the Eastern Cape Province. This species' presence has since been confirmed in the Mkambati Nature Reserve, extending its distribution southwards. Only a single additional record in Eswatini has been made since Boycott's (1992) study. The identity of a specimen supposedly from Witsieshoek, collected prior to 1915, was confirmed by Bates (1992), but no additional specimens of this species have since been collected anywhere nearby (e.g. De Waal 1978, Bourquin 2004) and this record is therefore viewed with suspicion. The species may also occur in southern Mozambique.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The population is inferred to be stable.

Threats

Although there are no major threats to this species, there is habitat alteration in its range from urbanization and agriculture (e.g. sugarcane and crops) or wood plantations (Rouget et al. 2006). Because the species is widespread, these threats are considered to have minimal impact at present.

Uses and trade

Not known to be utilized in any way.

Conservation

I.it occurs in many protected areas across its wide range. No recommendations at present.

References

[@electronic{181632,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
 year = {2018}
}
,@book{19520513,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa.},
 author = {Mucina, L. and Rutherford, M.C.},
 publisher = {Strelitzia 19. South African National Biodiversity Institute},
 title = {The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland},
 year = {2006}
}
,@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}
}
,@book{2817,
 address = {Cape Town},
 author = {Branch, W.R.},
 publisher = {Struik Publishers},
 title = {Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Second Edition},
 year = {1998}
}
,@article{5336,
 author = {De Waal, S.W.P.},
 journal = {Memoirs of the National Museum of Bloemfontein},
 pages = {1--160},
 title = {The Squamata (Reptilia) of the Orange Free State, South Africa},
 volume = {11},
 year = {1978}
}
,@article{5336,
 author = {Bourquin, O.},
 journal = {Durban Museum Novitates},
 pages = {57--103},
 title = {Reptiles (Reptilia) in KwaZulu-Natal: 1 - diversity and distribution},
 volume = {29},
 year = {2004}
}
,@article{16939,
 author = {FitzSimons, V.F.M.},
 journal = {Memoirs of the Transvaal Museum},
 pages = {i--xv + 1--528, +24 pls + map},
 title = {The lizards of South Africa},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1943}
}
,@phdthesis{196991,
 author = {Boycott, R.C.},
 school = {M.Sc. thesis, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa},
 title = {A Herpetofaunal Survey of Swaziland},
 year = {1992}
}
,@inbook{110159014,
 address = {Grahamstown, South Africa},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {The reptiles of Maputaland},
 editor = {Bruton, M.N. and Haacke, W.D.},
 pages = {251--287},
 publisher = {Rhodes University},
 title = {Studies on the Ecology of Maputaland},
 year = {1980}
}
,@book{111481811,
 address = {Pietermaritzburg},
 author = {Bates, M.F.},
 publisher = {M.Sc. thesis, University of Natal},
 title = {The Herpetofauna of the Orange Free State - with Special Emphasis on Biogeographical Patterning},
 year = {1992}
}
,@article{111481811,
 author = {Mason, M.C. and Alexander, G.J.},
 journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
 number = {1},
 pages = {31--37},
 title = {Oviposition site selection in <i>Tetradactylus africanus africanus</i>: A relationship with the ant <i>Anochetus faurei</i>},
 volume = {45},
 year = {1996}
}
,]

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