Spotted Flat Lizard (Platysaurus maculatus) Family: Bælteøgler (Cordylidae) Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)

Size:  Males up to 19.6 cm, females up to 16.9 cm. Distribution:  Northern Mocambique and southern Tanzania. Habitat:  Rocky outcrops (granite, gneiss, sandstone) with crevices providing refuge for the lizards. Food:  Mostly insects. Reproduction:  Egg-laying. Females lay two fairly large, elongate eggs measuring about 23x10 mm. In some species of flat lizards, communal egg depositories of up to 26 eggs have been found. Flat lizards are gregarious except during breeding season, when males become territorial. During this time, a male will confront other males by lifting its head and anterior body off the rock surface with stretched front legs, displaying the bright colouration of throat and chest. Activity and behaviour:  Diurnal. As soon as the sun warms up the rocks in the morning, the lizards come out to spend most of the day basking, apart from the hottest hours of the day, where they retreat into the shade. Enemies and defense:  Snakes (e.g., sand snakes) are among the enemies, and raptors probably also. Longevity:  Unknown, but some species of flat lizards can live for more than 10 years. Sexual differences:  As seen in the photos (right), sexes are easily identified in adults, but juveniles and subadults cannot be sexed by using the colours. When reaching adulthood, males have developed pores on the thighs and broader heads than the females. Occasionally, mature males may keep subadult colouration, but can be identified by checking the thighs for pores. Variation:  Two different races (subspecies) have been described (maculatus and lineicauda), but even within the former race there is considerable diffences between populations regarding colouration and pattern. Status:  Apparently not threatened by human activities, but is restricted due to specialized habitat requirements. Not included in any CITES appendices. References: Adolphs, K. 2006. Bibliotheca Cordyliformium. Neues Quellenverzeichnis der Gürtelschweife und Schildechsen (Reptilia, Cordylidae & Gerrhosauridae). Squamata Verlag, Sankt Augustin. 303 pp. Broadley, D.G. 1965. A new species of Platysaurus from northern Mozambique. Arnoldia Rhodesia 1(33): 1-4. Broadley, D.G. 1974. Reproduction in the genus Platysaurus (Sauria, Cordylidae). Herpetologica 30(4): 379-380. Broadley, D.G. 1978. A revision of the genus Platysaurus A. Smith (Sauria: Cordylidae). Occasional Papers of the National Museums and Monuments of Rhodesia Series B Natural Sciences 6(4): 129-185. Cooper, W.E.; Whiting, M.J.; van Wyk, J.H. 1997. Foraging modes of cordyliform lizards. South African Journal of Zoology 32(1): 9-13. Frost, D.; Janies, D.; Mouton, P.le F.N.; Titus, T. 2001. A molecular perspective on the phylogeny of the girdled lizards (Cordylidae, Squamata). American Museum Novitates 3310: 1-10. Jacobsen, N. 1980. Children of the sun. Fauna and Flora (Pretoria) 36: 22-23. Korner, P.; Whiting, M.J.; Ferguson, J.W.H. 2000. Interspecific aggression in flat lizards suggests poor species recognition. African Journal of Herpetology 49(2): 139-146. Lewis, B.A.; Whiting, M.J.; Stapley, J. 2007. Male flat lizards prefer females with novel scents. African Zoology 42(1): 91-96. Loveridge, A. 1944. Revision of the African lizards of the family Cordylidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 95: 1-118. Mouton, P. le F.N. 1997. Family Cordylidae. pp. 19-23. In: Wyk, J.H. van (ed.). Proceedings of the FitzSimons Commemorative Symposium (South African lizards: 50 years of progress) and Third H.A.A. Symposium on African herpetology: held at the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa, 11-15 October 1993. Herpe Odierna, G.; Canapa, A.; Andreone, F.; Aprea, G.; Barucca, M.; Capriglione, T.; Olmo, E. 2002. A phylogenetic analysis of Cordyliformes (Reptilia: Squamata): Comparison of molecular and karyological data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 23(1): 37-42. Scott, I.A.W.; Keogh, J.S.; Whiting, M.J. 2004. Shifting sands and shifty lizards: molecular phylogeny and biogeography of African flat lizards (Platysaurus). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 31(2): 618-629. Spawls, S.; Howell, K.; Drewes, R.; Ashe, J. 2002. A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Academic Press, London & California. 543 pp. Stapley, J.; Whiting, M.J. 2006. Ultraviolet signals fighting ability in a lizard. Biology Letters 2(2): 169-172. Welch, K.R.G. 1994. Lizards of the world: a checklist. Vol. 5. Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae, Cordylidae and Gerrhosauridae. R & A Research and Information Limited & KCM Books, Taunton. 97 pp. Wermuth, H. 1968. Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien. Cordylidae (Cordylinae + Gerrhosaurinae). Das Tierreich 87: 1-30. Wyk, J.H. van; Mouton, P. le F.N. 1996. The reproductive cycles of the oviparous lizards Platysaurus capensis and P. minor: evidence supporting a viviparity-oviparity reversal in the Cordylidae. Amphibia-Reptilia 17(2): 115-129. Text & layout: Rune Midtgaard

Gallery Home There is great difference between male and female Spotted Flat Lizards. In the photo above is a male, below is a female. © Rune Midtgaard. © Rune Midtgaard.