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Pungwe flat lizard

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Pungwe flat lizard
Individual at the Frankfurt Zoo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus: Platysaurus
Species:
P. pungweensis
Binomial name
Platysaurus pungweensis
Broadley, 1959

The Pungwe flat lizard (Platysaurus pungweensis) is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.

Description

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Females and juveniles of the Pungwe flat lizard are black and striped on their backs. Males vary by subspecies. The species resembles the common flat lizard, Platysaurus intermedius.

Geography

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Pungwe flat lizards live in eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.[1][2] The type was obtained at the Pungwe River at 730 m (2,400 ft) above sea level, near the eastern border of Rhodesia (current Zimbabwe).[2]

Habitat and ecology

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Pungwe flat lizards inhabit low rock outcrops and large hills in mesic savanna.[1] They eat ants and beetles.

Subspecies

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Two subspecies are accepted:[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J. (2021). "Platysaurus pungweensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T177573A120633574. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T177573A120633574.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Platysaurus pungweensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 March 2021.
  3. ^ Adolphs, Klaus (29 July 2015). "Platysaurus Smith, 1844". www.squamata.de. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
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