Red List of South African Species

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

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

The species is widespread and relatively common in South Africa with much of its range falling within Protected Areas; it is therefore considered Least Concern.

Distribution

Widely distributed in the eastern half of sub-Saharan Africa south of 6°N, from the southern parts of Sudan and Ethiopia southwards to northeastern  South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland), with scattered populations in Central and West Africa (Broadley 1987). In South Africa, Broadleysaurus major occurs in the eastern Limpopo and Mpumalanga, and northeastern KwaZulu-Natal provinces (Bates et al. 2014).

Population trend

Trend

The population is considered stable.

Threats

Areas of this species range are impacted by habitat transformation, such as agriculture, wood plantations, and human settlement (Geo Terra Image 2015, 2016); however, the species is considered well protected with approximately one-third of its range falling within Protected Areas.

Uses and trade

There is no known subsistence use or commercial trade of this species.

Conservation

Jacobsen (1989) noted that this lizard is not commonly encountered in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. He suggested that populations should be monitored, surveys undertaken, and ecological studies conducted.

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}
}
,@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{9160,
 author = {Bates, M.F., Tolley, K.A., Edwards, S., Davids, Z., da Silva, J.M. and Branch, W.R.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 number = {5},
 pages = {465--493},
 title = {A molecular phylogeny of the African plated lizards, genus <i>Gerrhosaurus</i>  Wiegmann, 1828 (Squamata: Gerrhosauridae), with the description of two new  genera},
 volume = {3750},
 year = {2013}
}
,@techreport{11227,
 author = {Geo Terra Image},
 title = {Technical Report: 2013/2014 South African National Land Cover Dataset version 5. Pretoria},
 year = {2015}
}
,@techreport{11228,
 author = {Geo Terra Image},
 title = {Technical Report: 1990 South African National Land Cover Dataset version 5.2. Pretoria.},
 year = {2016}
}
,@article{13152261,
 author = {Largen, M.J. and Spawls, S.},
 journal = {Tropical Zoology},
 pages = {21--109},
 title = {Lizards of Ethiopia (Reptilia Sauria): an annotated checklist, bibliography, gazetteer and identification key},
 volume = {19},
 year = {2006}
}
,@article{13152261,
 author = {Broadley, D.G.},
 journal = {Herpetological Journal},
 pages = {194--198},
 title = {A review of geographical variation in <i>Gerrhosaurus major</i> Dum&eacute;ril (Sauria: Cordylidae)},
 volume = {1},
 year = {1987}
}
,]
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