SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Widely distributed with a large extent of occurrence (809,123 km²), but within its range it is generally limited to montane habitats. Some areas are poor in quality due to afforestation and increased burning for agricultural purposes. However, these impacts are not considered a threat at present, so this species is listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

This species is found in eastern and southern South Africa, from northern Limpopo Province southwards through the provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and along the southern Cape coast to Cape Town (Jacobsen 1989, Branch 1998, Bourquin 2004, Bates et al. 2014). A few records are also known from the Free State Province, Eswatini [Swaziland] and Lesotho (De Waal 1978, Boycott 1992, Bates 1996, Ambrose 2006, Bates et al. 2014).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The species is inferred to be stable given its wide range and the relative amount of habitat transformation throughout.

Threats

There are minor threats from habitat loss in montane regions due to afforestation, particularly in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape (CSIR 2008). Another major threat is the frequent burning of montane grassland habitat, and these factors degrade the habitat quality and increase fragmentation of subpopulations.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilized.

Conservation

Occurs in some protected areas. No recommendations at present.

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}
}
,@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}
}
,@article{5336,
 author = {De Waal, S.W.P.},
 journal = {Memoirs of the National Museum of Bloemfontein},
 pages = {1--160},
 title = {The Squamata (Reptilia) of the Orange Free State, South Africa},
 volume = {11},
 year = {1978}
}
,@book{5336,
 address = {Roma, Lesotho},
 author = {Ambrose, D.},
 publisher = {Mamhlongo Productions},
 title = {Lesotho Annotated Bibliography Section 166: Reptiles Including Annotated Checklist},
 year = {2006}
}
,@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{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}
}
,@book{10242,
 address = {Pretoria, South Africa},
 author = {CSIR},
 publisher = {Unpublished Report, CSIR},
 title = {Land Use Data for Agriculture, Forestry and other Land Uses (AFOLU) Sector: Input into Greenhouse Inventory report of South Africa. Draft 2.1},
 year = {2008}
}
,@article{41227,
 author = {Edwards, S., Branch, W.R., Vanhooydonck, B., Herrel, A., Measey, G.J. and Tolley, K.A.},
 journal = {Zootaxa},
 number = {2},
 pages = {101--114},
 title = {Taxonomic adjustments in the systematics of southern African lacertid lizards (Sauria: Lacertidae)},
 volume = {3669},
 year = {2013}
}
,@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}
}
,@phdthesis{196991,
 author = {Boycott, R.C.},
 school = {M.Sc. thesis, University of Natal, Durban, South Africa},
 title = {A Herpetofaunal Survey of Swaziland},
 year = {1992}
}
,]

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