Afroedura granitica
Granite Flat Gecko
Alternative Names
Lillie Platgeitjie (Afrikaans)
Species: Afroedura granitica Jacobsen, Kuhn, Jackman & Bauer, 2014
Distribution: South Africa
Distribution extended: (Limpopo). Known from a single locality near Mica, Limpopo Province, South Africa (Jacobsen et al. 2014).
Type Locality: “Farm Lillie 148KT, 24°04' S, 30°51' E, Letaba district (2430BB), Northern Province”
Habitat: Savanna
Habitat extended: Occurs on decomposing granite hills and outcrops in the eastern Lowveld (farm Lillie) SVl 3 Granite Lowveld (Mucina and Rutherford 2006)
Natural History: Locally abundant. Rupicolous (rock-dwelling) species, seeking refuge in tight crevices or underneath rocks. They are primarily nocturnal and feed on insects and likely other arthropods. They exhibit synanthropic behaviour, found on the sides of houses and other structures. They have been found occupying the same retreats as large flat rock scorpions.
Biology: Oviparous (2 eggs), that are laid in the crevices of rocks, underneath flakes, and between boulders.
Conservation Status: According to the IUCN Red List, this species is classified as "Least Concern," indicating that it is not currently considered to be at high risk of extinction.
Additional information
The Reptile Database - (See here)
IUCN Red List (See here)
iNaturalist (See here)
LITERATURE
Bates, M.F. 2022. Afroedura broadleyi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T110187021A197426384. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T110187021A197426384.en. Accessed on 04 April 2024.
Jacobsen, N.H.G. 1992. Flat geckos (genus Afroedura) in the Transvaal. Journal of the Herpetological Association of Africa 40: 22-25.
Jacobsen NH, Kuhn AL, Kuhn AL, Jackman TR, Bauer AM. 2014. A phylogenetic analysis of the southern African gecko genus Afroedura Loveridge (Squamata: Gekkonidae), with the description of nine new species from Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Zootaxa 5;3846(4):451-501. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3846.4.1.
Mucina L, Rutherford MC. 2006. The Vegetation of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa.