The Broadley’s flat lizard, aka Augrabies flat lizard, is a species of spinytailed lizard that hails from South Africa. These highly colorful lizards face the threat of viticulture which has expanded as an agro-industry along the Orange River in the last few decades. They also face the threat of poaching for the pet trade. They are also highly specialized to live among the granite rock crevices along the Orange River. They are vulnerable to habitat modifications, localized chemical contamination of river waters (that impacts their insect prey). Finally, climate change disrupts rainfall and subsequently breeding patterns. However, these lizards are abundant enough to be listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as stable.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Platysaurus broadleyi
Weight: Up to .56 ounce
Length: Up to 3.3 inches, plus up to a 5.5 inch tail
Lifespan: Up to 15+ years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) They were first formally described by herpetologists William R. Branch and Martin J. Whiting in 1997.
2.) These lizards prefer rocky areas in both savannas and shrublands.
3.) Broadley’s flat lizards can be found at elevations of up to 2,400 feet.
4.) Acrobatic leaps are performed in order to catch black flies on the wing from the swarms that gather near rivers, but they will also eat ripe berries from Namaqua figs.
5.) The rock kestrel is their primary predator.
But wait, there’s more on the Broadley’s flat lizard!
6.) These lizards have been documented having a much higher visual sensitivity to UV light than other species of lizards, allowing the males to accurately distinguish between conspecifics of various fitness levels.
7.) These lizards were named in honor of African herpetologist Donald George Broadley.
Did you know…?
They possess up to 3 times the number of UV photoreceptor cells in their retina compared to other lizards.
8.) The female typically lays up to 2 clutches of eggs in the early summer.
9.) Females lay up to 2 eggs per clutch that hatch in up to 90 days.
10.) These lizards are diurnal (active during the day).
Now a Short Broadley’s Flat Lizard Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
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