SANBI

Rationale (Changed due to Knowledge of criteria|New Information)

Has a moderately sized distribution (extent of occurrence of 17,816 km² ), and parts of the range are heavily transformed. Average habitat transformation within the Cape Floristic Region is estimated at approximately 30%, while certain vegetation types (e.g. Renosterveld) in which this species is known to occur have been reduced by up to 80% in extent (Rouget et al. 2003). Although this habitat transformation is likely to continue into the future, parts of this species' range overlap protected areas that offer suitable habitat and no immediate threats. While some areas of this species' range are fragmented, the overall extent of fragmentation cannot be considered severe across the range. This species has therefore been assessed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Endemic to the western regions of the Western Cape, South Africa (Bates et al. 2014). There is an isolated record ca 70 km north of Sutherland in the Northern Cape (Broadley 2002) that is questionable and in need of confirmation.

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

The species is inferred to be stable, given that it is relatively widespread and common in areas that are not heavily transformed.

Threats

Much of the species range is heavily transformed due agriculture and urbanization. These threats are not considered severe at present.

Uses and trade

This species is not utilized.

Conservation

This species occurs in some protected areas. Clarification of the taxonomic status of Psammophis leightoni relative to P. namibensis and P. trinasalis is needed.

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}
}
,@article{44979971,
 author = {Broadley, D.G.},
 journal = {African Journal of Herpetology},
 number = {2},
 pages = {83--119},
 title = {A review of the species of <i>Psammophis</i> Boie found south of Latitude 12&deg;S (Serpentes: Psammophiinae)},
 volume = {51},
 year = {2002}
}
,@article{44979997,
 author = {Rouget, M., Richardson, D.M., Cowling, R.M., Lloyd, J.W. and Lombard, A.T.},
 journal = {Biological Conservation},
 pages = {63--85},
 title = {Current patterns of habitat transformation and future threats to biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa},
 volume = {112},
 year = {2003}
}
,@article{44979997,
 author = {Kelly, C.M.R., Barker, N.P., Villet, M.H., Broadley, D.G. and Branch, W.R.},
 journal = {Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution},
 pages = {1045--1060},
 title = {The snake family Psammophiidae (Reptilia: Serpentes): Phylogenetics and species delimitation in the African sand snakes (<i>Psammophis</i> Boie, 1825) and allied genera},
 volume = {47},
 year = {2008}
}
,]

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Red List of South African Species