Pedioplanis breviceps
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Pedioplanis
Species:
P. breviceps
Binomial name
Pedioplanis breviceps
(Sternfeld, 1911)
Synonyms[2]
  • Eremias breviceps
    Sternfeld, 1911
  • Mesalina breviceps
    — Szczerbak, 1989
  • Pedioplanis breviceps
    — Mayer, 1989

Pedioplanis breviceps, known commonly as the short-headed sand lizard, the short-headed sandveld lizard, and Sternfeld's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Namibia.[1][2]

Geographic range

P. breviceps is found in northwestern Namibia.[1][2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of P. breviceps is desert.[3]

Description

P. breviceps is a small species for its genus. It has a short head, to which the specific name, breviceps, refers. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5.5 cm (1.8–2.2 in). The lower eyelid is scaly and opaque, without a "window". There is sexual dimorphism in coloration: adult females and juveniles have distinct dark dorsal stripes, but adult males are uniformly brown dorsally.[3]

Reproduction

P. breviceps is oviparous.[2] An adult female may lay a clutch of 2–4 eggs. Each egg measures 11 mm (0.43 in) by 6 mm (0.24 in). Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in).[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bauer, A.M.; Becker, F. (2020). "Pedioplanis breviceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T197005A110221812. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T197005A110221812.en. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pedioplanis breviceps at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 May 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised Edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Pedioplanis breviceps, pp. 170–171 + Plate 58).

Further reading

  • Conradie W, Measey GJ, Branch WR, Tolley KA (2012). "Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with description of two new species from south-western Angola". African Journal of Herpetology 61 (2): 91–112.
  • Makokha JS, Bauer AM, Mayer W, Matthee CA (2007). "Nuclear and mtDNA-based phylogeny of southern African sand lizards, Pedioplanis (Sauria: Lacertidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 44 (2): 622–633.
  • Sternfeld R (1911). "Zur Herpetologie Südwestafrikas ". Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum in Berlin 5: 393–411. (Eremias breviceps, new species, p. 404, Figure 2). (in German).



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