Burchell's Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis burchelli
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyLacertidae (Wall Lizards)
- GenusPedioplanis
- SpeciesPedioplanis burchelli (Burchell's Sand Lizard)
About the Burchell's Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis burchelli, known commonly as Burchell's sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to Southern Africa. The specific name, burchelli, is in honor of William John Burchell who was an English explorer and naturalist.
P. burchelli is found in Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. The preferred natural habitats of P. burchelli are savanna, shrubland, and grassland. Adults of P. burchelli have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5.5 centimetres (1.8–2.2 in). Coloration is very variable. The lower eyelid is opaque, without any transparent "window" scales. There are no enlarged temporal or tympanic shields.
P. burchelli is oviparous. Clutch size is 4-6 eggs. Each oval egg measures about 9 mm (0.35 in) by 11 mm (0.43 in). Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of about 7.2 cm (2.8 in). Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1839). Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome cinquième [Volume 5]. Paris: Roret. viii + 854 pp. (Eremias burchelli, new species, pp. 303–304). (in French).
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Closest Relatives at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Burchell's Sand Lizard in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Burchell's Sand Lizard sighting in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, based on 11 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Burchell's Sand Lizard in Golden Gate Highlands National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Burchell's Sand Lizard in Golden Gate Highlands National Park in our monthly data.