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Variations within Pedioplanis laticeps (Smith, 1845) A total of 36 individuals were examined (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. ……continued on the next page ……continued on the next page ……continued on the next page ……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., Published as part of 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), pp. 82-109 in Zootaxa 4318 (1) on pages 90-97, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4318.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/886124, {"references":["Smith, A. (1845) Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa. Reptilia. Part XXIII. Smith, Elder, and Co., London.","Branch, W. R. (1998) Field guide to the snakes and other reptiles of southern Africa. Third edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town, 368 pp.","Conradie, W., Measey, J. G., Branch, W. R. & Tolley, K. A. (2012) Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis), with the description of two new species from south-western Angola. African Journal of Herpetology, 61, 91 - 112. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 21564574.2012.676079"]}

Knowledge of the thermal ecology of a species can improve model predictions for temperature‐induced population collapse, which in light of climate change is increasingly important for species with limited distributions. Here, we use a multi‐faceted approach to quantify and integrate the thermal ecology, properties of the thermal habitat, and past and present distribution of the diurnal, xeric‐adapted, and active‐foraging Namibian lizard Pedioplanis husabensis (Sauria: Lacertidae) to model its local extinction risk under future climate change scenarios. We asked whether climatic conditions in various regions of its range are already so extreme that local extirpations of P. husabensis have already occurred, or whether this micro‐endemic species is adapted to these extreme conditions and uses behavior to mitigate the environmental challenges. To address this, we collected thermoregulation and climate data at a micro‐scale level and combined it with micro‐ and macroclimate data across the species’ range to model extinction risk. We found that P. husabensis inhabits a thermally harsh environment, but also has high thermal preference. In cooler parts of its range, individuals are capable of leaving thermally favorable conditions—based on the species’ thermal preference—unused during the day, probably to maintain low metabolic rates. Furthermore, during the summer, we observed that individuals regulate at body temperatures below the species’ high thermal preference to avoid body temperatures approaching the critical thermal maximum. We find that populations of this species are currently persisting even at the hottest localities within the species’ geographic distribution. We found no evidence of range shifts since the 1960s despite a documented increase in air temperatures. Nevertheless, P. husabensis only has a small safety margin between the upper limit of its thermal preference and the critical thermal maximum and might undergo range reductions in the near future under even the most moderate climate change scenarios.

Kirchhof, Sebastian, Linden, Jabu, Rödder, Dennis, Richter, Klaus (2010): Foraging mode of Australolacerta rupicola (FitzSimons, 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae): evidence of seasonal variation in an extremely active predator? Journal of Natural History 44 (47-48): 2941-2953, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2010.502595, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2010.502595