Namazonurus peersi

Namazonurus peersi is a species of small, spiny lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.^[2]

Namazonurus peersi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Cordylidae
Genus:	Namazonurus
Species:	N. peersi
Binomial name
Namazonurus peersi (Hewitt, 1932)
Synonyms[2]
Zonurus peersi Hewitt, 1932 Cordylus peersi — V. FitzSimons, 1943 Namazonurus peersi — Stanley et al., 2011

Common names

Common names for N. peersi include Hewitt's spiny-tailed lizard,^[3] Peers' girdled lizard,^[1][2][3][4] Peers's girdled lizard, Peers' Nama lizard,^[2] and Peers's Nama lizard.

Etymology

The specific name, peersi, is in honor of either Victor Peers or his son Bertram "Bertie" Peers, both of whom were amateur archaeologists in South Africa in the 1920s.^[3]

Geographic range

Within South Africa, N. peersi is found in Northern Cape province and Western Cape province,^[1] in the area also known as Little Namaqualand.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of N. peersi are rocky areas and shrubland.^[1]

Description

Adults of N. peersi have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 7.5–8.5 cm (3.0–3.3 in). The head is triangular, and both the head and the body are flattened. Dorsally, N. peersi is black. Ventrally, it is very dark purple-brown, except for the femoral pores, which are pale yellow.^[4]

Behavior

N. peersi is terrestrial.^[1]

Diet

N. peersi preys upon caterpillars and other large insects.^[4]

Reproduction

N peersi is ovoviviparous.^[2]

References

1. Bates, M.F.; Mouton, P.L.F.N. (2018). "Namazonurus peersi ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T110162485A115676146. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T110162485A115676146.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. Namazonurus peersi at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 October 2020.
3. Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cordylus peersi, pp. 123, 202).
4. Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 399 pp. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Cordylus peersi, p. 192 + Plate 68).

Further reading

• FitzSimons, V.F. (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Museum Memoir No. 1. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum. xvi + 528 pp. (Cordylus peersi, new combination).
• Hewitt, J. (1932). "Some New Species and Subspecies of South African Batrachians and Lizards". Annals of the Natal Museum 7 (1): 105–128. (Zonurus peersi, new species, p. 116).
• Stanley, E.L.; Bauer, A.M.; Jackman, T.R.; Branch, W.R.; Mouton P.L.F.N. (2011). "Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)". Moecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58 (1): 53–70. (Namazonurus peersi, new combination).