Pedioplanis laticeps ( Smith, 1845 )

Sebastian Kirchhof, Johannes Penner, Mark-Oliver Rödel & Johannes Müller, 2017, Resolution of the types, diagnostic features, and distribution of two easily confused Sand Lizards, Pedioplanis laticeps (Smith, 1845) and P. burchelli (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) (Squamata: Lacertidae), Zootaxa 4318 (1), pp. 82-109 : 90-97

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4318.1.3

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C7208E07-6474-42Dc-92Fd-98E27Ccd23D5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5615707

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E087E5-693B-FF91-DFA8-FD1FFD09E101

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Pedioplanis laticeps ( Smith, 1845 )
status

 

Variations within Pedioplanis laticeps ( Smith, 1845)

A total of 36 individuals were examined ( Table 2 View TABLE 2 ).

Max. SVL: 67 mm ( ZMB 23443, adult male, Warmbad , Namibia).

Scalation: The 3 nasal scales on each side always bulging, the interior ones usually separated by the rostral and the frontonasal, only in 3 out of 36 specimens the nasals meet in a suture (which is shorter than in burchelli ); 29 to 36 transverse ventral rows (median 32); 14 to 18 longitudinal ventral rows (median 16). The anterior 6 to 11 transverse rows (sometimes called pectoral scales) are arranged in a V-shape and scale numbers are substantially reduced around the armpits, after which they are aligned horizontally onto the flanks, often only gradually decreasing in size and merging into the dorsal scales.

Midbody scales smooth, arranged in 46 to 64 rows (median 56) (48 to 62 in Branch 1998, Conradie et al. 2012). In nine individuals (25%) the prefrontals are in contact (mostly separated by 1 scale; 2 in one individual, or by a suture between the frontal and the frontonasal in one individual). Scales in the temporal region show a tendency to enlarge towards the ear opening (in case there is an enlarged scale at the anterodorsal edge of the ear opening, it is not curved and there is at least one additional row of scales separating it from the ear opening); tympanic shield and elongate scales (lobes) absent; upper labials 8 to 13 (usually 11), with 4 (in two individuals) to 7 (usually 5 or 6) in front of the subocular scale which borders the lip; usually 2 scales between the subocular and the freno-ocular; lower labials 5 (in one individual on one side only) to 9, usually 7 or 8; femoral pores 11 to 18 on each thigh; enlarged scales in collar 6 to 11; occipital scale present; interparietal usually longer than broad, in four individuals occipital and interparietal are separated by 1 additional scale or granule; supraoculars 2, bordered by small granules anteriorly, posteriorly and along the supraciliaries in all individuals. In 61% the anterior supraocular is also surrounded with granules along its inner border, separating it from the frontal, and in 28% both supraoculars have the inner border edged with granules. Usually 15 or more granules anterior to the supraoculars. Chin shields pairs usually 5 (exceptionally up to 7), in most cases the anterior 3 are entirely in contact along their interior edge (in three individuals only the anterior 2 chin shields). Freno-ocular 1, frenonasal 1, in one individual (the holotype of E. laticeps ) they are fused on one side, in a second one there is one additional scale below the freno-ocular; supraciliaries 6 (in one individual) to 12, usually 9 to 10; lower eyelid covered with several small, semi-transparent scales.

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……continued on the next page Fore limb scales mainly small, flat and smooth, anteriorly large in a longitudinal row extending to the toes; hind limb scales small and smooth posteriorly and externally, below larger and imbricate with a row of large shieldlike plates anteriorly; tibia scales small and not keeled as are the top of the feet; soles of the hind feet covered in granular scales, each with 3 spines (1 median large, 2 lateral small ones) directed towards the 5th toe. There are 28– 32 spiny lamellae (mainly bi- or tricarinate, sometimes additional diminutive carinae) beneath the 4th toe.

Colouration is variable. The examined young are brownish-black above with up to 6–8 whitish stripes in the neck region. Shortly behind the occiput the median pair fuses, towards midbody the next pair fuses which extend to the tail base. The number of white streaks from the occiput to the tail base is hence 8, 7, 6, 5 (or 7, 6, 5 or 6, 5). Adults can display similar striping (with up to 9 stripes in the neck in two individuals). The median stripes can also be of a light creamish-brownish colour. Other individuals have indistinct light stripes. The back may be yellowish brown, with or without small dark spots or chevrons, sometimes with two dorsal bands of black spots. There can be white ocelli on the sides. Laterally, the brown spaces between the stripes can be speckled with white, yellow and orange. The limbs are dark brown with whitish, black-edged ocelli. Ventral surfaces of belly, throat and limbs are white but can turn orange at the tail and the thighs.

TABLE 2. Inđiviđuals presenteđ to us as Pedioplanis laticeps anđ their character values. The catalogue number of the type material is unđerlineđ. Values for symmetric characters are given as left / right unless they are the same on both siđes. Interstitial extra scales are remarkeđ as + 1. Abbreviations: ađ: ađult; subađ: subađult; juv: juvenile; hatch: hatchling; m: male; f: female; NA: not available; Ns: nasal scale; b: bulging; sb: slightly bulging; nb: not bulging; TVR: transverse ventral scale row; LVR: longituđinal ventral scale rows; max: maximum; LDR: longituđinal đorsal scale rows; PF: prefrontal; FN: frontonasal; F: frontal; TyS: tympanic shielđ; UL: upper labial; SbO: subocular scale; FreO: freno-ocular; LL: lower labial; FPo: femoral pores; C: enlargeđ collar scales; O: occipital; IP: interparietal; SO: supraocular; IRG: inner row of granules; inc.: incomplete; CS: chin shielđ pairs; FreN: freno-nasal; SC: supraciliaries. * Collecteđ by Smith. ** Presenteđ by Lorđ Derby. *** Ađđitional scale / granule between IP anđ O.

Catalogue number Label name Confirmed name SVL Age Sex Ns Ns in contact
BMNH 1946.8.7.86** L. capensis P. laticeps 51 subađ m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1946.8.7.56* P. laticeps P. laticeps 51 subađ m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1865.5.4.87* P. laticeps P. laticeps 59 m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1865.5.4.88* P. laticeps P. laticeps 59 m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1879.6.9.15 P. laticeps P. laticeps 60 m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1879.6.9.16 P. laticeps P. laticeps 64 m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1889.12.16.58 P. laticeps P. laticeps 51 f 3 (b) no
BMNH 1898.5.26.27 P. laticeps P. laticeps 36 juv NA 3 (b) no
BMNH 1910.5.27.1 P. laticeps P. laticeps 66 f 3 (b) no
BMNH 1917.1.17.16 P. laticeps P. laticeps 48 subađ f 3 (b) no
BMNH 1988.511 P. laticeps P. laticeps 53 m 3 (b) no
BMNH 1988.512 P. laticeps P. burchelli 53 subađ f 3 (sb) no
BMNH 1988.513 P. laticeps P. laticeps 62 f 3 (b) yes
BMNH 1988.514 P. laticeps P. laticeps 56 f 3 (b) yes
BMNH 1988.515 P. laticeps M. knoxii 32 juv NA 3 (nb) yes
ZMB 6732 P. laticeps P. laticeps 24 hatch NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 6733 P. laticeps P. laticeps 45 subađ f 3 (b) no
ZMB 6734 P. laticeps P. laticeps 24 hatch NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 6735 P. laticeps P. laticeps 57 m 3 (b) no
ZMB 23443 P. laticeps P. laticeps 67 m 3 (b) no
ZMB 81682 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 37 juv NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81683 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 49 subađ f 3 (b) no
ZMB 81684 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 48 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81685 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 47 subađ f 3 (b) no
ZMB 81686 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 47 subađ m 3 (b) no
ZMB 81687 (formerly part of 6732) P. laticeps P. laticeps 60 m 2 (b) no
ZMB 81688 (formerly part of 6733) P. laticeps P. laticeps 43 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81689 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 35 juv f 3 (b) no
ZMB 81690 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 40 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81691 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 42 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81692 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 41 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81693 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 49 subađ NA 3 (b) yes
ZMB 81694 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 46 subađ NA 3 (b) no
ZMB 81695 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 51 f 3 (b) no
ZMB 81696 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 48 m 3 (b) no
ZMB 81697 (formerly part of 6734) P. laticeps P. laticeps 52 m 3 (b) no
ZMB 82782 P. laticeps P. laticeps 56 f 3 (b) no
ZMB 82783 P. laticeps P. laticeps 63 m 3 (b) no

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ZMB

Museum f�r Naturkunde Berlin (Zoological Collections)

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Lacertidae

Genus

Pedioplanis

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