Afroedura hawequensis
Hawequa Flat Gecko
Alternative Names
Hawequa se Platgeitjie (Afrikaans)
Distribution: South Africa
Habitat extended: Endemic to the Hawequa mountain range (du Toitskloof and Limietberg mountains) in the Western Cape Province.
Type Locality: “Hawekwa mountains near Paarl (33 figs 41’05”S 19°05’42”E), Cape Province”
Notes": This region of the old “Cape Province” is now referred to as the Western Cape Province.
Habitat: Fynbos; Shrubland
Habitat extended: Mesic habitats on sandstone boulders and outcrops
Natural History: 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 human-built structures.
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. 2022. Afroedura hawequensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T612A197396890. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T612A197396890.en. Accessed on 04 April 2024.
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.
Hagey, T. J., Harte, S., Vickers, M., Harmon, L. J., & Schwarzkopf, L. (2017). There’s more than one way to climb a tree: Limb length and microhabitat use in lizards with toe pads. PLoS One, 12(9), e0184641.
le FN Mouton, P., & Mostert, D. P. (1985). Description of a new species of Afroedura (Loveridge)(Reptilia: Gekkonidae) from the south-western Cape. African Zoology, 20(4), 246-249.
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.