Red List of South African Species

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Least Concern (LC)
Assessors: Bryan Maritz
Contributors: Josh Weeber
Facilitators: Graham Alexander Krystal A Tolley Neil Cox
Reviewers: Michael Bates Juan-Jacques Forgus Krystal A Tolley Luke Verburgt

Rationale (Changed due to Same category and criteria)

Widespread in rocky habitats that are not significantly prone to anthropogenic influence (Bates et al. 2014). In addition, these snakes are often abundant, hence it is assessed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Endemic to southern Africa and recorded from Namibia, South Africa and Eswatini [Swaziland] (Bates et al. 2014). It is also likely to occur in Lesotho and Mozambique, although no records are known from these countries. The distribution appears to follow the Great Escarpment, running southwards from southern Namibia, through Namaqualand to the Cape Fold Mountains, and then northeast to Limpopo (Bates et al. 2014).

Decline

Although the rocky habitats inhabited by this species tend to be fragmented, the degree of fragmentation does not qualify as severe.

Population trend

Trend

No quantitative information on population size is currently available, but the population is suspected to be stable

Threats

There appears to be some opportunistic collecting for the pet trade but this is likely to be a low level.

Uses and trade

There is a low level presence of this species in the pet trade, for sale or sought after online.

Conservation

Occurs in a number of protected areas. As this species is easily collected in suitable habitat, its presence in the pet trade should be quantified and monitored. Research into the taxonomic status of various populations should be carried out.

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. 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{11229,
 author = {Kelly, C.M.R., Branch, W.R., Broadley, D.G., Barker, N.P and Villet, M.H.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution},
 number = {3},
 pages = {415--426},
 title = {Molecular systematics of the African snake family Lamprophiidae Fitzinger, 1843 (Serpentes: Elapoidea), with particular focus on the genera <i>Lamprophis</i> Fitzinger 1843 and <i>Mehelya</i> Csiki 1903},
 volume = {58},
 year = {2011}
}
,]
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