AW Reptile Checklist of Kgalagadi Challenge

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nan
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Southern Spiny Agama

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Southern Spiny Agama
Agama hispida

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Description
A medium-sized agamid with adult snout-vent length in the region of 80-100 mm. Very similar to ground agama. Earhole smaller and throat dark with irregular pale blotches. Cryptic, except breeding male lvivid, metallic yellow-green. The body is very stout and depressed, covered above with moderately large, strongly keeled scales, intermixed with enlarged spinose scales, which may form indefinite longitudinal rows. Small groups of spinose scales occur on the sides of the neck and behind the ear-openings. A vertebral series of enlarged keeled scales forms a distinct dorsal crest on the nape and back. The ventral scales are also keeled. The limbs are relatively long with enlarged spinose scales above. Males have a single row of ± 10 preanal glands. In males, the tail is slightly longer than the body, but in females it is slightly shorter. Males are beautifully coloured during the breeding season. Above, they can be green, olive or brown, more or less uniform or with indistinct darker and lighter variegations. The belly is bluish-grey to turquoise with blue blotches in the gular region. Females and young males are olive to brown above with 4-5 transverse series of large squarish dark spots or crossbands that extend more faintly onto the tail and limbs. The belly is yellow-white to pale green with a dark network on the throat.

Distribution
Northern Cape Province, Western and South-Western Cape Province, Zimbabwe, Namibia and southern Angola. This species occurs in the western parts of the Northern and Western Cape, and marginally into Namibia. In the Western Cape, it is absent from the more mesic southern parts. An isolated population occurs in the northwestern Free State.

Habitat
This species inhabits semi-desert, coastal dunes and arid salt pans. Specimens take shelter in short tunnels excavated at the bases of bushes in open, sandy vegetation, and frequently use burrows in ground squirrel colonies. It is mostly encountered in the low-lying dune areas of the and lives in holes under large tufts of grass or small bushes.

Biology
This terrestrial agamid occurs in arid semi-desert areas and is particularly fond of open sandy veld. It is often found in old agricultural fields. It shelters in a short tunnel dug at the base of a bush or may occupy rodent or ground squirrel burrows. Ants and beetles are the most important items in its diet. It readily climbs onto bushes to bask. During the mating season, males display from perches such as low rocks and road verges. Like other South-African agamids, it is oviparous and females lay 7-11 eggs during early summer. This species does not keep well in captivity.

Links: SCARCE


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Rock monitor, White-throated monitor

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Rock monitor, White-throated monitor
Varanus albigularis
Family: Varanidae

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Image

Image by Toko

Description
The rock monitor is one of almost 60 species of powerfully built lizards belonging to the genus Varanus. All monitor lizards are recognised for their elongate bodies, strong limbs, muscular tails and robust claws. The body pattern of the white throated monitor comprises dark rosettes with a cream coloured centre that gradually merge with age to give the impression of bands around the ribcage. While the head is solid grey or brown above, the throat is much lighter, hence this species’ common name. The snout of this monitor lizard is also distinctively blunt and bulbous, particularly in adults. Tail only as long as body. Head, body covered in small bead-like scales. Mottled in tan and black, but dulled with dust and old skin.

Biology
Although primarily a terrestrial species, the rock monitor will climb trees to hunt for prey, to reproduce, and to avoid predators. If confronted on the ground by a predator, such as a honey badger, it will puff up its throat and body, lash out with its tail, and bite violently. During the summer it is active throughout the day, except during midday in regions where temperatures are extremely high. It hunts for a wide range of prey and will eat just about anything it can subdue, from snakes, birds and eggs, to snails, millipedes and grasshoppers. Although the rock monitor remains alert during the winter months, it is far less active and generally remains in its overnight refuge, which usually takes the form of an earth burrow or hollow tree trunk .
During the breeding season, receptive females almost always climb into trees. Once a male locates a female, the pair will mate for one to two days before the male goes in search of another female. Each year, a female may lay two clutches of up to 50 eggs.

Distribution
The rock monitor has a wide distribution through south-western, south-central, and eastern Africa

Habitat
Found in grassland, scrub and woodland habitats.

Links: ARKive; Eric R. Pianka, Dennis King, Ruth Allen King: Varanoid Lizards of the World; Bill Branch, William R. Branch: A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa


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Fork-marked Sand Snake, Kalahari Sand Snake

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Fork-marked Sand Snake, Kalahari Sand Snake
Psammophis trinasalis

Image

Image

Description
The Kalahari sand snake can be identified by its slender body, large eyes and strictly diurnal lifestyle. It grows to an average length of 75 cm and a maximum length of 1.1 meters.

Distribution
This snake has a wide distribution and occurs in the Free State, the Northern Cape, the North West, Limpopo, Botswana and Namibia.

Habitat
Mainly Kalahari thornveld but may also occur in savanna and grassland.

Diet
Eats lizards (particularly skinks and lacertids) and rodents and other snakes.

Predators
Eaten by birds of prey (particularly secretary birds and snake eagles) and other snakes.

Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying).

Longevity
Likely to have an average lifespan of 10 years.

Venom
Although venomous is not dangerous to man.

Links: Biodiversity Explorer


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Marsh Terrapin, Helmeted Terrapin

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Marsh Terrapin, Helmeted Terrapin
Pelomedusa subrufa

Image

Description
A moderate-sized turtle, with five-clawed, webbed feet, a large head with a protruding snout, and an elongate profile. The flattened carapace is olive or brown, and the scales of the head, body and limbs are greyish-brown. Patterning is normally absent, but blotches or light radial patterning may be present Two small barbels (tentacles) are present beneath the chin; these are involved in mating. It doesn't have a hinged plastron (lower shell). The plastron is yellow with brown blotches, and the throat may also be yellow. The head is broad, the snout short, the neck is long and muscular, often withdrawn sideways.It has two soft tentacles on chin.
Juveniles have olive skin, and the carapace may be black and orange. Often black and cream barring is present along the edge of the carapace where it joins the plastron.

Size
Typical carapace length is 200-300mm.

Geographic Distribution
It occurs throuout sub-Saharan Africa from the Cape Peninsula to the Sudan.

Habitat
It occurs in a wide range of habitats: fynbos, grassland, subtropical savanna, semi-desert regions. It will move great distances and occupy seasonal pans and marshes. In the dry season it leaves the pans and burrows underground to aestivate. But it inhabits both temporary and permanent bodies of water.

Diet
The African helmeted turtle is omnivorous and will eat almost anything. Some of the main items in its diet are amphibians, (adults and larvae), insects, small crustaceans, fish, crabs, ticks, earthworms, and snails. They may also feed on carrion. The fine claws on its feet help it tear its prey apart. Groups of these turtles have been observed capturing and drowning larger prey such as doves when they come to drink, the commotion caused by these group attacks are often mistaken for crocodiles.

Reproduction
Nesting takes places after the onset of the wet saison, A nest is dug to a depth of approximately 15 cm and 10-30 eggs are laid in a sandbank. The eggs hatch in 75– 90 days.

Links: William R. Branch: Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa; IUCN Specialists Group


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Spotted Sand Lizard

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Spotted Sand Lizard Lézard Pedioplanis
Pedioplanis lineoocellata

Image

Size
12-17 cm. SVL 45 to 55mm. Max SVL 58mm.

DescriptionIt has a slightly flattened head and body, ideal to move around the flat rocky veld. Body slender. Long tail. Distinct collar, faint fold under throat. Black lined clear "window" in lower eyelid.
The tail of the spotted sand lizard is not as long as that of other lacertids, but the lizard has the typical lacertid built, namely a elongated, slender body with well-developed legs and long toes. It has 10-17 femoral pores on each thigh. Coloration is extremely variable.
The colour of the back may range from grey-brown to red-brown, usually with 2-4 rows of small, pale dorsal spots that may fuse into broken or continuous dorsolateral stripes. The flanks have a series of large, pale-blue spots that may be dark-edged. Namaqualand specimens usually have paired black dorsolateral stripes. The hindlegs are usually spotted and the tail is flecked with pale and dark dots. Sometimes, individuals may be fairly uniformly coloured. The belly is white. Adult males sometimes have a blue-grey throat.
Namibian species are more brightly coloured than other southern African spotted sand lizards. Juveniles striped. Adults have series of pale blue spots on flanks.

Geographic Distribution
The spotted sand lizard has an extensive range in the western half of southern Africa reaching well into Namibia and Botswana.

Habitat
Arid savannah with rocky flats, broken ground.

Behaviour
Active during the day, even in the colder winter periods, sheltering in small burrows dug beneath a flat rock.

Diet
These lizards will sit and wait for their prey to parade in front of them before they grab small insects after a short, swift run from cover. They are seasonal feeders on termites during winter and beetles and locusts in the summer.

Reproduction
Females lay between 4 to 8 eggs in early summer (November) after digging a suitable chamber in moist soil beneath a rock for shade and protection. Eggs hatch in February. Hatchlings measure 50-55 mm in total length.


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