Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Marius Burger Krystal Tolley
Facilitators: Graham Alexander
Reviewers: Werner Conradie Margaretha Hofmeyr Paula Strauss

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Relatively widely distributed with no substantial threats at present.

Distribution

Within South Africa, this species is distributed in the central (Free State, Northern Cape, North-West provinces) and northeastern (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng provinces) regions (Bates et al. 2014). There is an isolated population in northeastern KwaZulu-Natal Province that possibly extends into Eswatini (Swaziland). Globally, the species occurs in Namibia, Botswana, southern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique and South Africa (Branch 1998).

Population trend

Trend

The population is suspected to be stable.  The species probably does not occur in high density given that sightings are relatively rare.

Threats

There are no substantial threats to this species.

Uses and trade

There is no known utilization.

Conservation

None recommended.

References 

[@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}
}
,@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{174109,
 author = {Bates, M.F.},
 journal = {Navorsinge van de Nasionale Museum Bloemfontein},
 number = {1},
 pages = {1--47},
 title = {New reptile distribution records for the Free State Province of South Africa},
 volume = {12},
 year = {1996}
}
,@article{196992,
 author = {Broadley, D.G.},
 journal = {Arnoldia (Rhodesia)},
 number = {20},
 pages = {1--36},
 title = {A review of the <i>Nucras tessellata</i> group (Sauria: Lacertidae)},
 volume = {5},
 year = {1972}
}
,@article{196989,
 author = {Edwards, S., Tolley, K.A., Vanhooydonck, B., Measey, G.J. and Herrel, A.},
 journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society},
 title = {Is dietary niche breadth linked to morphology and performance in Sandveld lizards <i>Nucras</i> (Sauria: Lacertidae)?},
 year = {2013}
}
,]
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