Pungwe flat lizard
| Pungwe flat lizard | |
|---|---|
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| Individual at the Frankfurt Zoo | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Cordylidae |
| Genus: | Platysaurus |
| Species: | P. pungweensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Platysaurus pungweensis Broadley, 1959
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The Pungwe flat lizard (Platysaurus pungweensis) is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.
Description
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Pungwe flat lizards inhabit low rock outcrops and large hills in mesic savanna.[1] They eat ants and beetles.
Subspecies
[edit]Two subspecies are accepted:[1][2]
- P. p. pungweensis – Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique
- P. p. blakei Broadley, 1964 – outcrops and inselbergs in the lowlands of southern Manica Platform, central Mozambique. Type locality 24 kilometres (15 miles) southeast of Vila de Manica.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Platysaurus pungweensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 March 2021.
- ^ Adolphs, Klaus (29 July 2015). "Platysaurus Smith, 1844". www.squamata.de. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 24 December 2018.