Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi
| Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Gerrhosauridae |
| Genus: | Tetradactylus |
| Species: | T. fitzsimonsi
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| Binomial name | |
| Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi Hewitt, 1915
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| IUCN range
Extant (resident)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi, commonly known as Fitzsimons' long-tailed seps and FitzSimons' whip lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Gerrhosauridae. The species is endemic to South Africa.[2]
Etymology
[edit | edit source]The specific name, fitzsimonsi, is in honour of Irish-born South African herpetologist Frederick William FitzSimons.[3]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]The preferred natural habitats of T. fitzsimonsi are grassland and shrubland.[1]
Description
[edit | edit source]T. fitzsimonsi has no front legs. Its hind legs are minute, with only one toe on each foot.[2] Adults may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 8 cm (3.1 in) and a total length (including a long tail) of about 34 cm (13 in).[4]
Reproduction
[edit | edit source]T. fitzsimonsi is oviparous. A clutch of 2–5 eggs is laid in a live ant nest (Anochetus faurei). Communal nesting has been observed. Each egg measures about 1.5 cm × 1.0 cm (0.59 in × 0.39 in). Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of about 12.5 cm (4.9 in).[4]
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. (Tetradactylus africanus fitzsimonsi, p. 91).
- ^ a b 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. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. (Tetradactylus africanus fitzsimonsi, p. 182 + Plate 50).
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- Bates MF, Branch WR, Bauer AM, Burger M, Marais J, Alexander GJ, de Villiers MS (editors) (2014). Atlas and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). xvii + 485 pp. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).. (Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi, p. 234).
- FitzSimons VF (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Museum Memoir No. 1. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum. xvi + 528 pp. (Tetradactylus africanus fitzsimonsi, new taxonomic status, p. 297).
- Hewitt J (1915). "Descriptions of two new South African lizards, Tetradactylus levicauda and T. fitzsimonsi ". Annals of the Transvaal Museum 5 (2): 101–103. (Tetradactylus fitzsimonsi, new species).
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