Soutpansberg rock lizard

The Soutpansberg rock lizard (Vhembelacerta rupicola) is a small (40–50 mm) flattened species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It has been described as a diurnal, rock-dwelling species inhabiting scree and rocky outcrops at altitudes from 900 to 1600 m.^[3] It is endemic to the Limpopo Province in the north of South Africa.^[1][2]

Soutpansberg rock lizard
in Medike, Soutpansberg
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Vhembelacerta Edwards, Herrel, Vanhooydonck, Measey, Tolley, & Branch, 2013
Species:	V. rupicola
Binomial name
Vhembelacerta rupicola (FitzSimons, 1933)
Synonyms
Lacerta rupicola Fitzsimons, 1933 Australolacerta rupicola Kirchhof, 2010 Vhembelacerta rupicola Edwards, 2013[2]

It is an active forager on the southern slopes of the Soutpansberg hills.

Etymology

The species name “rupicola” means rock-inhabiting as this lizard is quite strictly saxicolous when compared to other species in the area like Trachylepis varia.

The first part of the genus name "Vhembe-" refers to the Vhembe region of Limpopo Province where the species is endemic. The second part of the name, "lacerta", refers to the Latin name for lizard, it also retains the historical link to the genus Lacerta to which the species was originally described.^[2]