Pungwe flat lizard


The Pungwe flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.

Description

Females and juveniles of the Pungwe flat lizard are black and striped on their backs. Males vary by subspecies. The species resembles the common flat lizard, Platysaurus intermedius.

Geography

Pungwe flat lizards live in eastern Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique. The type was obtained at the Pungwe River at 730 m above sea level, near the eastern border of Rhodesia.

Habitat and ecology

Pungwe flat lizards inhabit low rock outcrops and large hills in mesic savanna. They eat ants and beetles.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are accepted:P. p. pungweensisEastern Highlands of Zimbabwe and adjacent MozambiqueP. p. blakei Broadley, 1964 – outcrops and inselbergs in the lowlands of southern Manica Platform, central Mozambique. Type locality southeast of Vila de Manica.