Dwarf flat lizard
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(Endemic)SVL 65-70 mm; max SVL 80 mm.
A small platy in which the transparent ´window´in the lower eyelid is entire in the north, and split in the south of its range (below lat 20° S). The supranasals are fused with the nasals. The middle row of gulars is enlarged. The scales on the sides of the body are flattened and only just larger that those on the back. The ventrals are mostly in 18-20 longitudinal rows. Scales on the heels and at the base of the tail are not spiny (some speciemens from SW foothills of Waterberg have spiny tails). Males have 13-20 femoral pores. Females and juvenils have a dark brown back,with three narrow,broken, pale stripes and numerous pale spots between the stripes. The throat is blue-white, and the chest and belly are white. Adult males have green to blue-green back, with numerous pale spots, three pale stripes on the head, a bright orange tail that is paler below, a pale green throat with black specks, no collar, a light blue chest and a dark blue belly. Their sides are blue, but green to orange when immature. Biology and breeding : Very agile, found in small family groups on isolated rocky outcrops. Two white eggs are laid during November-December. Habitat : Arid and mesic savannah. Range : Isolated populations in N.Province, probably extending into E.Botswana. Subspecies : None recognized. Occurs with the Waterberg flat lizard on Blouberg.