Soutpansberg rock lizard

Soutpansberg rock lizard
Soutpansberg Rock Lizard, Vhembelacerta rupicola, Medike, Soutpansberg
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Australolacerta
Species:	V. rupicola
Binomial name
Vhembelacerta rupicola (FitzSimons, 1933)
Synonyms
Lacerta rupicola Fitzsimons, 1933 Australolacerta rupicola KIRCHHOF et al. 2010 Vhembelacerta rupicola EDWARDS et al. 2013 [1]

The Soutpansberg rock lizard (Vhembelacerta rupicola) is a small (40–50 mm) flattened species of lizard in the Lacertidae family. It has been described as a diurnal, rock-dwelling species inhabiting scree and rocky outcrops at altitudes from 900–1600 m.^[2] It is endemic to the Limpopo Province in the north of South Africa.^[3]

It is an active forager on the southern slopes of the Soutpansberg hills.

Etymology

The species name “rupicola” means rock-inhabiting as this lizard is quite strictly saxicolous when compared to other species in the area like Trachylepis varia.

The first part of the genus name "Vhembe-" refers to the Vhembe region of Limpopo Province where the species is endemic. The second part of the name, "lacerta", refers to the Latin name for lizard, it also retains the historical link to the genus Lacerta to which the species was originally described.^[4]

Sources

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. Australolacerta rupicola. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 28 July 2007.

References

1. "Vhembelacerta rupicola (FITZSIMONS, 1933)". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
2. Kirchhof,S. Linden, J. Rodder, D and Richter,K. (2010). "Daily activity patterns of Australolacerta rupicola(FitzSimons, 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae) with comments on niche segregation within a syntopic lizard community". North-Western Journal of Zoology. 6: 172–181.
3. "IUCN". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
4. "Vhembelacerta rupicola (FITZSIMONS, 1933)". Retrieved 15 November 2014.