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Graceful Crag Lizard
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(Endemic) SVL 65-70 mm; max SVL 78 mm male, 75 mm female.
This gracile species has long toes and a thin tail. The flanks are entirely
covered with granular scales. The nasals are in contact, separating the rostral
and frontonasal. Each nostril pierces the lower part of the nasal. The temporal
scales are small ad in three rows. rows of enlarged scales along the middle
of the back are seperated by granular scales. There are 15-18 grnular pores
on each thigh. The tail is spinose and considerably longer than the body. The
body, head and tail are blue-black in colour with yellow blotches and vermiculations,
praticularly on the top of the head; these are fainter on the back. The belly
is uniform slate grey, and sometimes paler in the centre. The throat has a rust-red
suffusion in some populations. Biology and breeding :
These species may be found together with the Cape crag lizard, P.microlepidotus,
but prefers miore vertical cliff faces. It is agile and runs at speed over the
smooth rocks. Very alert, it retreats at the first sign of danger. They form
small, diffuse colonies and several specimens ( usually male and female) may
be found in the same crack. They feed on insects, particularly bees and wasps.
One to three babies are born in December-January Habitat :
prefers mountain fynbos. Range : Isolated populations from
Cedarberg in the northt throughCape fold mountains to Kammanssieberg. Subspecies
: None are now recognized.
