SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Knowledge of criteria)

While the range of this species is not large (extent of occurrence less than 10,000 km²), the majority of the main Drakensberg subpopulation lies in a protected area (Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park) and the remainder of this populations’ distribution is not heavily impacted by loss in habitat quality or extent. Although the southern subpopulation is in an area that is heavily transformed, this forms a minority of the species overall range. This species is therefore listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Endemic to KwaZulu-Natal and Free State provinces, South Africa; found on the lower and middle slopes of the Drakensberg, with isolated subpopulations near Donnybrook and Ixopo in southern KwaZulu-Natal Province (Bates 2005, Bourquin 2004, Bates et al. 2014).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

No information on population size is currently available, but the majority of the species is inferred to be stable as it occurs in an area that is not impacted by habitat loss. The southern population may have undergone declines as a result of afforestation (plantations).

Threats

Afforestation (pines, bluegums) is a major threat to the southern population, especially in the Ixopo-Donnybrook area of southern KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Uses and trade

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II, but it has not been recorded by CITES as being exported for the pet trade (UNEP-WCMC 2017). It is similar in appearance to females of the two subspecies of Pseudocordylus melanotus, and because the ranges overlap slightly, it is possible that this species has been exported as P. melanotus . However, no P. melanotus have been sourced from the wild and exported for pet trade since 1997, and at that time the exports were minimal.

Conservation

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in some protected areas. The taxonomic status of the apparently isolated northern and southern populations should be investigated, particularly as the southern part of the range is heavily impacted by afforestation.

References

[@electronic{181632,
 address = {www.iucnredlist.org},
 author = {IUCN},
 title = {The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2018-2},
 year = {2018}
}
,@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}
}
,@electronic{3009,
 address = {https://trade.cites.org/},
 author = {UNEP-WCMC},
 title = {CITES Trade Database},
 year = {2017}
}
,@article{5333,
 author = {Stanley, E.L., Bauer, A.M., Jackson, T.R., Branch, W.R. and Mouton, P. le F.N. },
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {53--70},
 title = {Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)},
 volume = {58},
 year = {2011}
}
,@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}
}
,@phdthesis{18514,
 author = {Bates, M.F.},
 school = {Ph.D. thesis, University of Stellenbosch},
 title = {An Analysis of the <i>Pseudocordylus melanotus</i> Complex (Sauria: Cordylidae)},
 year = {2007}
}
,@article{18517,
 author = {Bates, M.F.},
 journal = {Navorsinge van die Nasionale Museum, Bloemfontein},
 number = {4},
 pages = {37--112},
 title = {Taxonomic history and geographical distribution of the <i>Pseudocordylus melanotus</i> (A. Smith, 1838) and <i>P. microlepidotus</i> (Cuvier, 1829) complexes (Sauria: Cordylidae)},
 volume = {21},
 year = {2005}
}
,]

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