Sekukhune flat lizard

The Sekukhune flat lizard (Platysaurus orientalis) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa. It has two subspecies.^[3]

Sekukhune flat lizard (pempenyane in Pedi language)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Cordylidae
Genus:	Platysaurus
Species:	P. orientalis
Binomial name
Platysaurus orientalis V. FitzSimons, 1941[2]
Synonyms[3]
Platysaurus minor orientalis V. FitzSimons, 1941 Platysaurus guttatus orientalis — Loveridge, 1944 Platysaurus orientalis — Jacobsen & Newbery, 1989

Description

Females and juveniles of P. orientalis have a black back with white stripes, as well as a white belly. Adult males have a green body, and a tail which is orange or red above, and yellow underneath. Adults usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 7.0–7.5 cm (2.8–3.0 in); the longest recorded SVL is 9.0 cm (3.5 in).^[4]

Geographic range and habitat

The Sekukhune flat lizard lives in a small area of savannah in South Africa in the Sekhukhuneland natural region. This includes the Mpumalanga Escarpment.^[4]

Reproduction

Female Sekukhune flat lizards lay two eggs in a rock crack in early summer.^[4]

Diet

The diet of the Sekukhune flat lizard includes insects, including caterpillars.^[4]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized.^[3]

• P. o. orientalis V. FitzSimons, 1941 – Drakensberg mountains in Mpumalanga in South Africa.
• P. o. fitzsimonsi Loveridge, 1944 – eastern Sekhukhuneland.

The subspecific name, fitzsimonsi, is in honor of South African herpetologist (Mr.) Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons.^[5]

See also

• Platysaurus
• Cordylidae