Red List of South African Species

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Vulnerable (VU)
D2
Assessors: Michael Bates Krystal Tolley
Contributors: Josh Weeber
Facilitators: Graham Alexander Krystal Tolley
Reviewers: Graham Alexander Adriaan Jordaan Paula Strauss Jody Taft

Rationale (Changed due to Same category but change in criteria)

There are no direct threats to this species at present, but given its small range, (extent of occurrence and area of occupancy both 16 km2) and its occurrence at high elevation, it could be  susceptible to both stochastic events and future climate change. Should climate predictions bear out, this species will have no capacity to adjust its range upslope as it is already at the highest elevation possible within its range. It is not known if it could tolerate warmer temperatures that could eventually characterize its current distribution. The species is therefore considered Vulnerable under criterion D2.

Distribution

Endemic to the Hottentots Holland Mountains of the Western Cape, South Africa, with a very restricted range (Bates et al. 2014). Known only from high elevation at Landdroskop.

Decline

None

Population trend

Trend

Costandius et al. (2006) counted a total of 131 individuals at 26 sites in the Landdroskop area, although a limited survey cannot be extrapolated to an estimated population size or trends. The population is considered to be stable at present, given that the entire known range is within a protected area. This also suggests the population is not severely fragmented.

Threats

Hemicordylus nebulosus is known from the higher elevations of the Hottentot-Hollands mountains, suggesting there would be no possibility for upslope displacement of its already small range should temperatures increase due to climate change. In addition, species found at lower elevations could shift upslope and expand into areas occupied by H. nebulosus, which would increase competition for resources (Costandius et al. 2006). Inappropriate fire management is also a threat because fires that are too infrequent result in overgrowth of vegetation with a resultant reduction in basking sites, whereas fires that are too frequent or too intense may reduce populations to levels from which they cannot recover (Costandius et al. 2006). Alien plant infestation is not currently a problem but should be monitored, because some alien plants burn at higher temperatures than natural vegetation.

Uses and trade

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II, but has not been exported for the pet trade under CITES (UNEP-WCMC 2017). 


Conservation

This species is listed in CITES Appendix II; it occurs in one protected area. Research focusing on the ability for this species to tolerate warmer temperatures would assist in understanding whether predicted climate change would have detrimental effects. This coupled to long-term monitoring of population size and survival rates would allow for an appraisal of any negative trends in population size. An effective fire management regime to minimize bush encroachment would also be beneficial.

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}
}
,@phdthesis{110160470,
 author = {Mabe, L.T.},
 school = {B.Sc. Honours thesis, University of the Free State, Qwaqwa Campus, Qwaqwa},
 title = {Graceful Crag Lizards (Cordylidae: <i>Pseudocordylus capensis</i>) are a Recent Species Radiation in the Cape Fold Mountains},
 year = {2009}
}
,@article{110160538,
 author = {Costandius, E., Mouton, P. le F.N. and Boucher, C.},
 journal = {South African Journal of Wildlife Research},
 number = {2},
 pages = {123--132},
 title = {Conservation status of the dwarf crag lizard, <i>Pseudocordylus nebulosus</i>, from the Hottentot Holland Mountains, South Africa},
 volume = {36},
 year = {2006}
}
,@article{110160538,
 author = {Frost, D., Janies, D., Mouton, P. le F.N. and Titus, T.},
 journal = {American Museum Novitates},
 pages = {1--10},
 title = {A molecular perspective on the phylogeny of the girdled lizards (Cordylidae, Squamata)},
 volume = {3310},
 year = {2001}
}
,]
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