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Pedioplanis gaerdesi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pedioplanis gaerdesi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Pedioplanis
Species:
P. gaerdesi
Binomial name
Pedioplanis gaerdesi
(Mertens, 1954)
Synonyms[2]
  • Eremias undata gaerdesi
    Mertens, 1954
  • Mesalina undata gaerdesi
    Szczerbak, 1989
  • Pedioplanis undata gaerdesi
    Mayer, 1989
  • Pedioplanis gaerdesi
    Bauer, Branch & Haacke, 1993

Pedioplanis gaerdesi, known commonly as the Kaokoland sand lizard, the Kaokoveld sand lizard, and Mayer's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Namibia.

Etymology

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The specific name, gaerdesi, is in honor of German zoologist Jan Gaerdes (1889–1981), who lived in Namibia for many years.[3]

Geographic range

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P. gaerdesi is found in northwestern Namibia.[2]

Habitat

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The preferred natural habitat of P. gaerdesi is gravelly or sandy desert or savanna, at altitudes of 200–1,400 m (660–4,590 ft).[1]

Description

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Adults of P. gaerdesi have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5 cm (1.8–2.0 in). The tail is very long, almost three times SVL. Dorsally, P. gaerdesi is golden brown. Ventrally, it is cream-colored. The flanks are spotted with yellow. The transparent "window" of the lower eyelid, which consist of one large scale, is ringed with black.[4]

Reproduction

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P. gaerdesi is oviparous.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Turner AA (2010). "Pedioplanis gaerdesi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T178213A7499023. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T178213A7499023.en. Downloaded on 16 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Pedioplanis gaerdesi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 May 2019.
  3. ^ 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. (Pedioplanis gaerdesi, p. 96).
  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. (Pedioplanis gaerdesi, p. 174 + Plate 103).

Further reading

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  • Bauer AM, Branch WR, Haacke WD (1993). "The herpetofauna of the Kamanjab area and adjacent Damaraland, Namibia". Madoqua, Windhoek 18 (2): 117–145. (Pedioplanis gaerdesi, new taxonomic status).
  • Conradie W, Measey GJ, Branch WR, Tolley KA (2012). "Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola". African Journal of Herpetology 61 (2): 91–112.
  • Herrmann H-W, Branch WR (2013). "Fifty years of herpetological research in the Namib Desert and Namibia with an updated and annotated species checklist". Journal of Arid Environments 93: 94–115.
  • Mertens R (1954). "Neue Eidechsen aus Südwest-Afrika". Senckenbergiana 34: 175–183. (Eremias undata gaerdesi, new subspecies, p. 176). (in German).