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)

Although not commonly encountered, this species is fairly widespread and is probably naturally in low densities. While some parts of its range are affected by habitat transformation, approximately 40% of its distribution falls within Protected Areas. It is therefore considered Least Concern.

Distribution

Endemic to the eastern half of sub-Saharan Africa as far north as Kenya (Loveridge 1942, Spawls et al. 2002, Bates et al. 2013). In South Africa it is restricted to northern and eastern Limpopo and northeastern Mpumalanga provinces (Bates et al. 2014).

Decline

Negligible

Population trend

Trend

The species appears to occur in low densities in South Africa (Jacobsen 1989), but this may be at least partly because it is shy and fast-moving and therefore not easily observed (FitzSimons 1935, Spawls et al. 2002).   The population is inferred to be stable, as much of its range is within large Protected Areas.

Threats

Most of this species range is within Protected Areas. Outside these areas, there is fairly heavy habitat transformation due agriculture, urbanization, and plantations.

Uses and trade

There is no known trade in this species.

Conservation

Determine population numbers and habitat status.

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 = {Loveridge, A.},
 journal = {Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard},
 pages = {485--543},
 title = {Revision of the African lizards of the family Gerrhosauridae},
 volume = {89(11)},
 year = {1942}
}
,@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}
}
,@book{110159014,
 address = {San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Boston, London},
 author = {Spawls, S., Howell, K.M., Drewes, R.C. and Ashe, J.},
 publisher = {Academic Press, Elsevier Science},
 title = {A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa},
 year = {2002}
}
,@article{196953,
 author = {FitzSimons, V.F.M.},
 journal = {Annals of the Transvaal Museum},
 number = {2},
 pages = {295--397},
 title = {Scientific results of the Vernay-Lang Kalahari Expedition, March to September, 1930. Reptilia and Amphibia},
 volume = {16},
 year = {1935}
}
,]
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