Afroedura karroica

ReptiliaSquamataGekkonidaeAfroedura
Written By Gary Nicolau

Karoo Flat Gecko

Alternative Names
Karoo Platgeitjie (Afrikaans)
Inland Flat Gecko (English)

Species: Afroedura karroica (Hewitt, 1925)

Distribution: South Africa
Distribution extended: Endemic to the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa.

Type Locality: “Albany district, Cape Province”
Notes: Albany region was a district in the Eastern Cape (Previously known as Cape Province). However, no individuals of A. karroica have since been collected from this region. The molecular and morphological results of recently found populations across the greater Albany region do not match that of A. karroica. It is assumed that the type locality is in error and rather north of the old Albany region.

Habitat: Grasslands and Nama-Karoo
Habitat extended:

 

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. & Bauer, A.M. (2018). Afroedura karroica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T196891A115661023. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T196891A115661023.en. Downloaded on 06 April 2021.

  • Hewitt, J. (1925). On some new species of Reptiles and Amphibians from South Africa. Rec. Albany Mus. (Grahamstown) 3: 343-370

  • Hewitt, J. (1926). Descriptions of some new species of batrachians and lizards from South Africa. Annals of the Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg) 5: 435-448

  • Jacobsen, N. H., Kuhn, A. L., Jackman, T. R., & Bauer, A. M. (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, 3846(4), 451-501.

  • Loveridge, A. 1944. New geckos of the genera Afroedura, new genus, and Pachydactylus from Angola. American Museum Novitates 1254: 1-4.

  • Loveridge, A. 1947. Revision of the African lizards of the family Gekkonidae. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 98(1): 1-469.

  • Makhubo, B. G., Tolley, K. A., & Bates, M. F. (2015). Molecular phylogeny of the Afroedura nivaria (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) species complex in South Africa provides insight on cryptic speciation. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 82, 31-42.

Gary Nicolau
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