Plain Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis undata
Silhouette: Gustav Mützel · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyLacertidae (Wall Lizards)
- GenusPedioplanis
- SpeciesPedioplanis undata (Plain Sand Lizard)
About the Plain Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis undata, known commonly as the plain sand lizard or the western sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa. P. undata is found in southern Namibia and in South Africa (northwestern Cape Province).
P. undata is a small and slender species, closely resembling P. namaquensis. However, the lower eyelid of P. undata has a "window" formed by 2–4 semitransparent large scales. Adults of P. undata have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 4.5–5 cm (1.8–2.0 in), and the tail is very long, nearly three times SVL.
P. undata preys upon small insects. P. undata is oviparous. Each hatchling has a total length (including tail) of 5.5–7.5 cm (2.2–3.0 in). Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. Lacertidæ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I–XL. (Eremias undata, p. 92).
Conradie W, Measey GJ, Branch WR, Tolley KA (2012). "Revised phylogeny of African sand lizards (Pedioplanis... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Plain Sand Lizard in Namib-Naukluft National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Namib-Naukluft National Park
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis namaquensis
Plain Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis inornata
Bill’s Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis branchi
Spotted Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis lineoocellata
Short-headed Sandveld Lizard
Pedioplanis breviceps
Husaben Sand Lizard
Pedioplanis husabensis
Wedge-snouted Desert Lizard
Meroles cuneirostris
Shovel-snouted Lizard
Meroles anchietae
Spotted Sand Lizard
Meroles suborbitalis
Reticulate Sand Lizard
Meroles reticulatus
Knox's Ocellated Sand Lizard
Meroles knoxii
Bushveld Lizard
Heliobolus lugubris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namib-Naukluft National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia | |
| 2 | Etosha National Park | 🇳🇦 Namibia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Plain Sand Lizard in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Plain Sand Lizard sighting in Namib-Naukluft National Park, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Plain Sand Lizard in Namib-Naukluft National Park?
March has the highest sighting rate for Plain Sand Lizard in Namib-Naukluft National Park in our monthly data.