REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
Percival's legless lizard, Acontias percivali
Acontias percivali, also known as Percival's legless lizard, is a small, legless (snake-like) species of lizard in the family Scincidae, collectively known as "skinks". Most are small animals, but the largest member of the genus is Acontias plumbeus at approximately 40 cm. All members of this genus are live-bearing, sandswimmers with fused eyelids. Percival's legless lizards are identified by their copper-brown back and gold underside. Male acontias can be distinguished from females by a slightly larger head. They are insectivores that specialise in feeding on beetle larvae, earthworms, and other slow-moving invertebrates. They are live bearing. Although this animal is poorly understood, it is occasionally seen in pet shops. Most acontias that appear in the pet trade are wild-collected individuals of this species. Captive breeding is possible, but currently has not been accomplished commercially.
Tasman's girdled lizard, Cordylus tasmani
A small girdled lizard with a rounded body and triangular head, that is not obviously flattened and has slightly rough head shields. The tail has whorls of large spines. The back is reddish-brown to mahogany, with irregular darker markings, sometimes with a pale cream, irregular vertebral stripe. The belly is dirty yellow to dark red-brown. It lives under the 'apron' of dead leaves on tall aloes, or on dead aloe stems lying on stony slopes; it can also be found under the bark of trees or in piles of rotting spekboom trunks, and will occupy cracks in limestone or sandstone outcrops. It feeds on small invertebrates. It is usually shy and difficult to approach. Some species of Cordylus have limited ranges and may be threatened with habitat destruction or over collecting for the pet trade. Cordylus tasmani has been assessed as Vulnerable because there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat due to high rates of habitat degradation and destruction.
Albany adder, Bitis cornuta
The Albany adder is a member of the viper family, a group of highly evolved, venomous snakes. Its relatively short, stocky body is grey and boldly patterned with black and white blotches. Small tufts of elongated scales protrude from above the eyes and it has long fangs that can be folded against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Male Albany adders are smaller than females. Lizards are the main prey, but large individuals may occasionally take rodents. Albany adders give birth to litters of three to seven young. This rare snake may be threatened by habitat destruction. The Albany adder’s range lies within a ‘hotspot’ of biodiversity, the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot. This area has one of the highest human densities in sub-Saharan Africa and is under threat from a number of activities including cultivation, plantation forestry, urbanisation, and sand-mining for the cement industry which occurs on the shores and inland of Algoa Bay.
Acontias percivali, also known as Percival's legless lizard, is a small, legless (snake-like) species of lizard in the family Scincidae, collectively known as "skinks". Most are small animals, but the largest member of the genus is Acontias plumbeus at approximately 40 cm. All members of this genus are live-bearing, sandswimmers with fused eyelids. Percival's legless lizards are identified by their copper-brown back and gold underside. Male acontias can be distinguished from females by a slightly larger head. They are insectivores that specialise in feeding on beetle larvae, earthworms, and other slow-moving invertebrates. They are live bearing. Although this animal is poorly understood, it is occasionally seen in pet shops. Most acontias that appear in the pet trade are wild-collected individuals of this species. Captive breeding is possible, but currently has not been accomplished commercially.
Tasman's girdled lizard, Cordylus tasmani
A small girdled lizard with a rounded body and triangular head, that is not obviously flattened and has slightly rough head shields. The tail has whorls of large spines. The back is reddish-brown to mahogany, with irregular darker markings, sometimes with a pale cream, irregular vertebral stripe. The belly is dirty yellow to dark red-brown. It lives under the 'apron' of dead leaves on tall aloes, or on dead aloe stems lying on stony slopes; it can also be found under the bark of trees or in piles of rotting spekboom trunks, and will occupy cracks in limestone or sandstone outcrops. It feeds on small invertebrates. It is usually shy and difficult to approach. Some species of Cordylus have limited ranges and may be threatened with habitat destruction or over collecting for the pet trade. Cordylus tasmani has been assessed as Vulnerable because there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat due to high rates of habitat degradation and destruction.
Albany adder, Bitis cornuta
The Albany adder is a member of the viper family, a group of highly evolved, venomous snakes. Its relatively short, stocky body is grey and boldly patterned with black and white blotches. Small tufts of elongated scales protrude from above the eyes and it has long fangs that can be folded against the roof of the mouth when not in use. Male Albany adders are smaller than females. Lizards are the main prey, but large individuals may occasionally take rodents. Albany adders give birth to litters of three to seven young. This rare snake may be threatened by habitat destruction. The Albany adder’s range lies within a ‘hotspot’ of biodiversity, the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot. This area has one of the highest human densities in sub-Saharan Africa and is under threat from a number of activities including cultivation, plantation forestry, urbanisation, and sand-mining for the cement industry which occurs on the shores and inland of Algoa Bay.