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Ocellated flat lizard
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(Endemic) SVL 75-85 mm; max SVL 94 mm
This large platy has similar scalation to the Cape flat lizard, P.capensis, but has different colouration, lacking the three dorsal stripes. It has opaque lower eyelids, each divided by a series of vertical septa. the enalrged supranasals are in contact behind the rostral. The supranasals are fused with the nasals. The middle row of gulars is very enlarged. The scales on the sides of the neck are spiny but not enlarged, and the collar is straight and composed of large plates. The ventrals are in 14 (rarely 12) longitudinal rows. Males have 13-18 femoral pores. Females and juvenils have a bronze back, with numerous pale, ill-defined spots. The tail is blackish. The throat is white speckled with gray. The belly is cream, and yellow under the base of tail. Adult males have a uniform black-brown head, and an olive-brown back with sulphur-yellow, dark edged spots. The tail is brown above and orange to yellow below ( bot orange to yellow above and below in very large specimens). The belly is pale green to blue. Biology and breeding : Very common on quartzite rock outcrops, feeding mainly on beetles but also eating flowers, leaves and seeds. Two eggs (21x9 mm) are laid in October-November. Habitat : Low miombo woodland. Range : Lower western slopes of Chimanimani Mountains in Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique.
