Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Martin Whiting Krystal Tolley Michael Bates
Reviewers: Graham Alexander

Rationale

This species is considered Least Concern in South Africa. It has a wide distribution with an Extent of Occurrence of more than 100,000 km2. Although there is habitat transformation within its range, it is considered well protected and occurs in at least 39 large Protected Areas.

Distribution

This species is found in Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa in discrete populations that correspond with the nine subspecies (Adolphs 2010). Four of the subspecies are endemic to South Africa in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga (P. intermedius intermedius, P. intermedius inopinus, P. intermedius parvus, P. intermedius wilhelmi). Playtsaurus intermedius rhodesianus is found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Eswatoini (Swaziland) and Mozambique, whereas P. intermedius natalensis is found in South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland). Most of these subspecies have discrete distributions (Bates et al. 2014).

Population trend

Trend

This species is inferred to be stable. Although it can be patchy due to habitat requirements, it is locally abundant .

Threats

There are no substantial threats to the species, particularly because it favours rock outcrops where habitat transformation is minimal. However, the intervening areas can be heavily transformed in some places which might disrupt metapopulation processes and impact ecological integrity of the area in general.

Conservation

No recommendations at present, however, an investigation into the status of the subspecies is urgently required.

References 

[@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}
}
,@article{110164296,
 author = {Jacobsen, N.H.G. and Newbery, R.E.},
 journal = {Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa},
 pages = {51--63},
 title = {The genus <i>Platysaurus</i> A. Smith 1844 in the Transvaal},
 volume = {36},
 year = {1989}
}
,@article{177526,
 author = {Scott, I.A.W., Keogh, J.S. and Whiting, M.J.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {618--629},
 title = {Shifting sands and shifty lizards: molecular phylogeny and biogeography of African flat lizards (<i>Platysaurus</i>)},
 volume = {31},
 year = {2004}
}
,@electronic{177526,
 address = {http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T177526A7449911.en},
 author = {Adolphs, K. },
 title = {Platysaurus intermedius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010},
 year = {2010}
}
,]
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