Pedioplanis lineoocellata

Pedioplanis lineoocellata, known commonly as the common sand lizard, the ocellated sand lizard, and the spotted sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa. There are three recognized subspecies.

Pedioplanis lineoocellata
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Pedioplanis
Species:	P. lineoocellata
Binomial name
Pedioplanis lineoocellata (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)
Synonyms[2]
Eremias lineo-ocellata A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 Pedioplanis lineoocellata — Arnold, 1986 Mesalina lineo-ocellata — Szczerbak, 1989 Pedioplanis lineoocellata — Mayer, 1989

Geographic range

P. lineoocellata is found in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.^[1][2]

Description

Adults of P. lineoocellata have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5.5 cm (1.8–2.2 in). The "window" in the lower eyelid is composed of two transparent scales, which are edged with black.^[3]

Reproduction

P. lineoocellata is oviparous.^[2] The adult female lays a clutch of 4–8 eggs. Each egg measures on average 12.5 mm (0.49 in) by 9.5 mm (0.37 in). Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of about 5.25 cm (2.07 in).^[3]

Subspecies

Three subspecies of P. lineoocellata are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[2]

• Pedioplanis lineoocellata inocellata (Mertens, 1955)
• Pedioplanis lineoocellata lineoocellata (A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839)
• Pedioplanis lineoocellata pulchella (Gray, 1845)

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Pedioplanis.

References

1. Tolley, K.A.; Turner, A.A. (2021). "Pedioplanis lineoocellata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T197000A147691580. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T197000A147691580.en. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
2. Pedioplanis lineoocellata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 16 May 2019.
3. 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. (Pedioplanis lineoocellata, p. 172 + Plates 59 & 103).

Further reading

• Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Eremias lineo-ocellata, new species, pp. 314–316). (in French).
• Gray JE (1845). Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (Eremias pulchella, new species, p. 42).
• Kirchhof S, Hipsley CA, Corl A, Dell'Mour H, Müller J (2014). "Pedioplanis lineoocellata lineoocellata (Duméril & Bibron 1839) Spotted Sand Lizard". African Herp News (61): 28–30.
• Mertens R (1955). "Die Amphibien und Reptilien Südwestafrikas. Aus den Ergebnissen einer im Jahre 1952 ausgeführten Reise". Abhandlung der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, Frankfurt (490): 1–172. (Eremias lineoocellata inocellata, new subspecies). (in German).
• Tolley KA, Daniels RJ, Feldheim KA (2014). "Characterisation of microsatellite markers in the Spotted Sand Lizard (Pedioplanis lineoocellata) shows low levels of inbreeding and moderate genetic diversity on a small spatial scale". African Journal of Herpetology 63 (2): 87–97.