Tropidosaura essexi

Last updated

Tropidosaura essexi
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Tropidosaura
Species:
T. essexi
Binomial name
Tropidosaura essexi
Hewitt, 1927

Tropidosaura essexi, also known commonly as Essex's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Contents

Etymology

The specific name, essexi, is in honor of South African herpetologist Robert Essex. [2]

Geographic range

T. essexi is found in Lesotho and South Africa. [3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of T. essexi is grassland, at altitudes of 2,400–3,400 m (7,900–11,200 ft). [1]

Description

T. essexi is small for its genus. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of only 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in). [4]

Behavior

T. essexi is diurnal and terrestrial. [1]

Reproduction

T. essexi is viviparous, and is the only African lacertid known to be viviparous. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacertidae</span> Family of lizards

The Lacertidae are the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at about 360 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group of reptiles found in Europe. The group includes the genus Lacerta, which contains some of the most commonly seen lizard species in Europe.

<i>Holaspis</i> Genus of lizards

Holaspis is a genus of equatorial African lizards in the family Lacertidae. These lizards are capable of gliding flight for distances of 30 meters.

<i>Nucras</i> Genus of lizards

Nucras is a genus of African lacertid lizards, commonly called sandveld lizards.

<i>Poromera</i> Genus of lizards

Poromera is a genus of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The genus Poromera is monotypic, containing the single species, Poromera fordii, commonly known as the West African striped lizard. The species is endemic to western Central Africa.

<i>Tropidosaura</i> Genus of wall lizards from South Africa

Tropidosaura is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlas dwarf lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Atlas dwarf lizard, commonly known as Andreansky's lizard, is the only species in the genus Atlantolacerta, in the wall lizard family, Lacertidae. The species is indigenous to north-western Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilford's wall lizard</span> Species of lizard

Lilford's wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain.

<i>Podarcis vaucheri</i> Species of lizard

Podarcis vaucheri, the Andalusian wall lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to northern Africa and southern Spain.

Adolfus alleni, also known commonly as the alpine meadow lizard or the alpine-meadow lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Kenya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bosc's fringe-toed lizard</span> Species of lizard

Bosc's fringe-toed lizard or Bosk's [sic] fringe-fingered lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to North Africa and Western Asia. Three subspecies are sometimes recognised; A. boskianus boskianus, from Lower Egypt; A. boskianus euphraticus from Iraq; and A. boskianus asper from the rest of the range; however this division is unsatisfactory because each subspecies has much variation and the differences between them are not consistent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common rough-scaled lizard</span> Species of lizard

Meroles squamulosa is a species of African lizard originally placed in the genus Ichnotropis, however phylogenetic evidence moves this species to the genus Meroles. The species is commonly called the common rough-scaled lizard or savanna lizard. It is largely found in southern Africa. These lizards are terrestrial and found in the range of mesic savannah. The common rough-scaled lizard is medium in size and well distributed in parts of Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Ichnotropis grandiceps is a species of African lizards in the family Lacertidae. They are commonly called Caprivi rough-scaled lizards as they are largely found in southwestern Africa on the border of the Caprivi Strip. The cape rough-scaled lizards are terrestrial and found in the range of open woodland and mesic savanna. The caprivi rough-scaled lizards are medium in size and distributed in parts of Namibia and Botswana. This species is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List for endangered species as they are rare and has not been seen or collected since 1998. Data about the population or specimens collected are needed for the IUCN to obtain more information about the unknown threats that may be impacting them.

<i>Goggia essexi</i> Species of lizard

Goggia essexi, also known commonly as Essex's dwarf leaf-toed gecko, Essex's leaf-toed gecko, and Essex's pygmy gecko, is a species of gecko, a lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

<i>Congolacerta vauereselli</i> Species of lizard

Congolacerta vauereselli, also known commonly as the sparse-scaled forest lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to central Africa.

Ichnotropis chapini is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to Central Africa.

<i>Pedioplanis burchelli</i> Species of lizard

Pedioplanis burchelli, known commonly as Burchell's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.

<i>Pedioplanis laticeps</i> Species of lizard

Pedioplanis laticeps, known commonly as the Cape sand lizard or the Karoo sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.

Tropidosaura cottrelli, also known commonly as Cottrell's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

<i>Tropidosaura gularis</i> Species of lizard

Tropidosaura gularis, also known commonly as the Cape mountain lizard and the yellow-striped mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

Tropidosaura montana, also known commonly as the common mountain lizard and the green-striped mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to South Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Tolley, K.A.; Bates, M.F.; Cunningham, M.J.; Turner, A.A. (2018). "Tropidosaura essexi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T197007A115665289. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T197007A115665289.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Tropidosaura essexi, p. 85).
  3. 1 2 Tropidosaura essexi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 22 May 2019.
  4. 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. (Tropidosaura essexi, p. 175 + Plate 103).

Further reading