Pedioplanis laticeps
Creators: name: Sebastian Kirchhof
name: Johannes Penner
name: Mark-Oliver Rödel
name: Johannes Müller
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Squamata
Lacertidae
Pedioplanis
Pedioplanis laticeps

description: 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.
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……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.
description: 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