Tropidosaura cottrelli

Tropidosaura cottrelli, also known commonly as Cottrell's mountain lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to southern Africa.

Tropidosaura cottrelli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Tropidosaura
Species:
T. cottrelli
Binomial name
Tropidosaura cottrelli
(Hewitt, 1925)
Synonyms[2]
  • Basutosaura cottrelli
    Hewitt, 1925
  • Tropidosaura cottrelli
    V. FitzSimons, 1943

Etymology

The specific name, cottrelli, is in honor of South African ornithologist John Awdry Cottrell, who collected the holotype.[3]

Geographic range

T. cottrelli is found in Lesotho and South Africa.[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of T. cottrelli is grassland, at altitudes of 2,500–3,300 m (8,200–10,800 ft).[1]

Description

T. cottrelli is large for its genus. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5.5–6.5 cm (2.2–2.6 in).[4]

Reproduction

T. cottrelli is oviparous.[2] An adult female may lay as many as four eggs.[4]

References

  1. Cunningham, M.J.; Tolley, K.A.; Bates, M.F.; Turner, A.A. (2018). "Tropidosaura cottrelli ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T178302A115659840. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T178302A115659840.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Tropidosaura cottrelli at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 May 2019.
  3. 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. (Tropidosaura cottrelli, p. 60).
  4. 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. (Tropidosaura cottrelli, p. 175 + Plate 62).

Further reading

  • Hewitt J (1925). "On some new species of Reptiles and Amphibians from South Africa". Records of the Albany Museum, Grahamstown 3 (4): 343–370. (Basutosaura cottrelli, new species, p. 356).



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