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''Platysaurus'' is a
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of
lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia al ...
s, commonly known as flat lizards for their flat backs, in the
family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Cordylidae.


Geographic range

All
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
in the genus ''Platysaurus'' live in isolated populations in
southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the African continent, south of the Congo and Tanzania. The physical location is the large part of Africa to the south of the extensive Congo River basin. Southern Africa is home to a number ...
. They are found in
Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Mala ...
,
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
, eastern
Botswana Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kal ...
, southern
Namibia Namibia (, ), officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country in Southern Africa. Its western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Zambia and Angola to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and e ...
and northern and western
South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
.


Description

The species of ''Platysaurus'' exhibit
sexual dimorphism Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most an ...
. Females and juveniles often have black or brown backs with white stripes, while males are much more colored. Also, males are somewhat larger than females.


Species

The described species are:''Platysaurus''
The Reptile Database. *''
Platysaurus attenboroughi Platysaurus attenboroughi (also known as Attenborough's flat lizard) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Namibia. See also * List of things named after David Attenborough and his works This i ...
'' – Attenborough's flat lizard *'' Platysaurus broadleyi'' – Broadley's flat lizard or Augrabies flat lizard *'' Platysaurus capensis'' – Cape flat lizard *'' Platysaurus guttatus'' – dwarf flat lizard *'' Platysaurus imperator'' – emperor flat lizard *'' Platysaurus intermedius'' – common flat lizard *'' Platysaurus lebomboensis'' – Lebombo flat lizard *'' Platysaurus maculatus'' – spotted flat lizard *'' Platysaurus minor'' – Waterberg flat lizard *'' Platysaurus mitchelli'' – Mitchell's flat lizard *''
Platysaurus monotropis The orange-throated flat lizard (''Platysaurus monotropis'') is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. Description Orange-throated flat lizard females and juveniles are black-brown with white stripes. Males have orange heads, green-blue b ...
'' – orange-throated flat lizard *'' Platysaurus ocellatus'' – ocellated flat lizard *'' Platysaurus orientalis'' – Sekukune flat lizard *'' Platysaurus pungweensis'' – Pungwe flat lizard *''
Platysaurus relictus The Soutpansberg flat lizard (''Platysaurus relictus'') is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. Description The females and juveniles of this Platysaurus are brown on their backs and yellow on their tails. Adult males, however, are gre ...
'' – Soutpansberg flat lizard *'' Platysaurus torquatus'' – striped flat lizard


See also

* Cordylidae *''
Pseudocordylus ''Pseudocordylus'' is a genus of small to large girdled lizards from South Africa, commonly known as crag lizards. Six species of ''Pseudocordylus'' are known; they are distinguished from girdled lizards of the genus ''Cordylus'' by the presen ...
'' *'' Cordylus''


References


Further reading

* Boulenger GA (1885). ''Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. ... Zonuridæ ...'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (Genus ''Platysaurus'', p. 261). * 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. . (Genus ''Platysaurus'', p. 198).


External links


More Information
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3021540 Lizard genera Lizards of Africa Taxa named by Andrew Smith (zoologist)