Breyer's long-tailed seps

Tetradactylus breyeri, commonly known as Breyer's long-tailed seps or Breyer's whip lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Gerrhosauridae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

Breyer's long-tailed seps
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Gerrhosauridae
Genus: Tetradactylus
Species:
T. breyeri
Binomial name
Tetradactylus breyeri
Roux, 1907

Etymology

The specific name, breyeri, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Hermann Gottfried Breyer.[2]

Geographic range

T. breyeri is found in the South African provinces of Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga.[3]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of T. breyeri is grassland, at altitudes of 1,400–2,000 m (4,600–6,600 ft).[1]

Description

T. breyeri is snake-like, with short vestigial legs. There are two toes on each front foot, and one toe on each back foot. Maximum snout-to-vent length (SVL) is 7.2 cm (2.8 in). The tail is very long, more than three times SVL.[3]

Reproduction

T. breyeri is oviparous.[4] Clutch size is small, only one or two eggs laid in early summer.[3]

References

  1. Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A.; Weeber, J.; Bates, M.F. (2019). "Tetradactylus breyeri ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T21662A154667451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T21662A154667451.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Tetradactylus breyeri, p. 38).
  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. (Tetradactylus breyeri, p. 182 + Plate 51).
  4. Species Tetradactylus breyeri at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

  • Bates MF (1996). "Taxonomic status and distribution of the South African lizard Tetradactylus breyeri Roux (Gerrhosauridae)". South African Journal of Zoology 31 (4): 214–218.
  • Berger-Dell'Mour HAE (1983). "Der Übergang von Echse zu Schleiche in der Gattung Tetradactylus, Merrem ". Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere. 110: 1–152. (in German).
  • FitzSimons VF (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Museum Memoirs No. 1. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum. xvi + 528 pp. (Teteradactylus breyeri, p. 294).
  • Roux J (1907). "Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Fauna von Süd-Afrika. Ergebnisse einer Reise von Prof. Max Weber im Jahre 1894. VII. Lacertilia (Eidechsen) ". Zoologische Jarhrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere. 25: 403–444. (Tetradactylus breyeri, new species, pp. 430–431 + Plate 14, figure 6). (in German).



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