Pedioplanis lineoocellata
Pedioplanis lineoocellata, known commonly as the common sand lizard, the ocellated sand lizard, and the spotted sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.
Pedioplanis lineoocellata | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Lacertidae |
Genus: | Pedioplanis |
Species: | P. lineoocellata |
Binomial name | |
Pedioplanis lineoocellata (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839) | |
Synonyms[1] | |
Geographic range
P. lineoocellata is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.[1]
Description
Adults of P. lineoocellata have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5.5 cm (1.8–2.2 in). The "window" in the lower eyelid is composed of two transparent scales, which are edged with black.[2]
Reproduction
P. lineoocellata is oviparous.[1] The adult female lays a clutch of 4–8 eggs. Each egg measures on average 12.5 mm (0.49 in) by 9.5 mm (0.37 in). Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of about 5.25 cm (2.07 in).[2]
Subspecies
Three subspecies of P. lineoocellata are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[1]
- Pedioplanis lineoocellata inocellata (Mertens, 1955)
- Pedioplanis lineoocellata lineoocellata (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)
- Pedioplanis lineoocellata pulchella (Gray, 1845)
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Pedioplanis.
References
- Pedioplanis lineoocellata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 May 2019.
- 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 lineoocellata, p. 172 + Plates 59 & 103).
Further reading
- Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Eremias lineo-ocellata, new species, pp. 314-316). (in French).
- Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Eremias pulchella, new species, p. 42).
- Kirchhof S, Hipsley CA, Corl A, Dell'Mour H, Müller J (2014). "Pedioplanis lineoocellata lineoocellata (Duméril & Bibron 1839) Spotted Sand Lizard". African Herp News (61): 28–30.
- Mertens R (1955). "Die Amphibien und Reptilien Südwestafrikas. Aus den Ergebnissen einer im Jahre 1952 ausgeführten Reise". Abhandlung der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, Frankfurt (490): 1–172. (Eremias lineoocellata inocellata, new subspecies). (in German).
- Tolley KA, Daniels RJ, Feldheim KA (2014). "Characterisation of microsatellite markers in the Spotted Sand Lizard (Pedioplanis lineoocellata) shows low levels of inbreeding and moderate genetic diversity on a small spatial scale". African Journal of Herpetology 63 (2): 87–97.