Platysaurus orientalis FITZSIMONS, 1941
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Platysaurus orientalis
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| Higher Taxa | Cordylidae (Platysaurinae), Scincoidea, Sauria, Squamata (lizards) |
| Subspecies | Platysaurus orientalis orientalis FITZSIMONS 1941 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi LOVERIDGE 1944 |
| Common Names | orientalis: Sekhukhune Flat Lizard fitzsimonsi: Fitzsimons’ Flat Lizard |
| Synonym | Platysaurus orientalis orientalis FITZSIMONS 1941: 280 Platysaurus minor orientalis FITZSIMONS 1941 Platysaurus guttatus orientalis LOVERIDGE 1944 Platysaurus orientalis orientalis — JACOBSEN & NEWBERY 1989 Platysaurus orientalis orientalis — ADOLPHS 2006 Platysaurus orientalis orientalis — STANLEY et al. 2011 Platysaurus orientalis orientalis — BATES et al. 2014: 222 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi LOVERIDGE 1944 Platysaurus guttatus fitzsimonsi LOVERIDGE 1944 Platysaurus fitzsimonsi BROADLEY 1978 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi — JACOBSEN & NEWBERY 1989 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi — ADOLPHS 2006 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi — STANLEY et al. 2011 Platysaurus orientalis fitzsimonsi — BATES et al. 2014: 222 |
| Distribution | Republic of South Africa Type locality: Sekororo, on the lower slopes of the Drakensberg, about 40 mi south of Leysdorp. fitzsimonsi: Republic of South Africa (Sekhukhuneland of Mpumalanga and Limpopo) |
| Reproduction | Oviparous |
| Types | Syntypes: DNMNH (= TM) 4527-4530 (3 males, 1 female) Holotype: MCZ 8982, an adult male, received in exchange from the British Museum, 1913 [fitzsimonsi] |
| Diagnosis | Original description: “Based on a series of three males and one female in the Transvaal Museum collection (T.M. Nos. 4527-4530), collected by G. van Dam, November 1922, at Sekororo, on the lower slopes of the Drakensberg, about 40 miles south of Leydsdorp. A small form similar to minor, but differing as follows: Snout more sharply pointed; head more swollen in temporal region and in general a little larger in proportion to body; granular area on lower temporal region less extensive and granules confined to 2-3 longitudinal rows (3-4 rows in minor); gular scales smaller, there being from 19 to 22 across throat on a line between the last large chin shield on either side (from 16 to 18 in minor); ventral plates smaller, in 34 transverse and 20-22 longitudinal series (30-34 transverse and 16-18 longi tudinal series in minor); usually 16-20, exceptionally 14, femoral pores on each side and 2-3 rows of modified glandular scales anterior thereto (in minor usually 14-16 femoral pores and a single row of glandular scales anterior thereto); scales on forearm and tibia more strongly keeled and spinose, especially on heel where spines are long and sharply pointed; scales on tail obtusely keeled above (more or less smooth in minor), strongly keeled and sharply spinose on sides (moderately keeled and not or but bluntly spinose in minor).” (Fitzsimons 1941) Coloration: “In colouring this form is very similar to typical guttatus, the males being dull green to bluish green above with pale streaks confined to the head, and small scattered pale spots over back (olive brown to reddish brown in minor, pale spots in longitudinal series); lower surfaces blue, passing to dark blue or bluish black on belly; sides of body similar to back, not orange buff as in minor. Females very dark brown to blackish above, with white streaks more clearly cut than in minor and pale spots between absent or at most confined to a few spots posteriorly (pale spots numerous in minor, and forming irregular longitudinal series); lower surfaces bluish white, with scattered irregular black spots (no black spots present in minor).” (Fitzsimons 1941) |
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