Tropidosaura essexi | |
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Scientific classification | |
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.
The specific name, essexi, is in honor of South African herpetologist Robert Essex. [2]
T. essexi is found in Lesotho and South Africa. [3]
The preferred natural habitat of T. essexi is grassland, at altitudes of 2,400–3,400 m (7,900–11,200 ft). [1]
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]
T. essexi is diurnal and terrestrial. [1]
T. essexi is viviparous, and is the only African lacertid known to be viviparous. [3]
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.
Holaspis is a genus of equatorial African lizards in the family Lacertidae. These lizards are capable of gliding flight for distances of 30 meters.
Nucras is a genus of African lacertid lizards, commonly called sandveld 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.
Tropidosaura is a genus of wall lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa.
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.
Lilford's wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Balearic Islands, Spain.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.