Tropidosaura essexi, also known commonly as Essex's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.
Etymology
The specific name, essexi, is in honor of South African herpetologist .
Geographic range
T. essexi is found in Lesotho and South Africa.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of T. essexi is grassland, at altitudes of .
Description
T. essexi is small for its genus. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of only .
Behavior
T. essexi is diurnal and terrestrial.
Reproduction
T. essexi is viviparous, and is the only African lacertid known to be viviparous.
References
Further reading
- FitzSimons VF (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Museum Memoir No. 1. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum. xvi + 528 pp. (Tropidosaura essexi, p. 309).
- Hewitt J (1927). "Further descriptions of reptiles and batrachians from South Africa". Records of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown 3 (5): 371âÂÂ415. (Tropidosaura essexi, new species, p. 378).
- , , , (2022). "Tropidosaura essexi Hewitt, 1927 (Reptilia: Lacertidae) is live bearing: the only viviparous African lacertid". African Journal of Herpetology 71 (2): 194âÂÂ200.