The Bushveld Lizards are a genus of widely distributed but isolated from one another species. They are closely related to the Meroles and Pedioplanis lizards (Branch). There is little information readily available on them. SKDA suggest that the genus may be artificial.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Heliobolus | ||||
| H. lugubris | Bushveld Lizard | Angola, W Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia | 5-7?" | Formerly classified as an Eremias species: see EMBL database entry for details. In shape and coloration it somewhat resembles its congeneric, H. spekii. They are fairly common on sandy, sparsely vegetated plains, where they dart from bush to bush [Branch]. Their diet is insectivorous, with termites being especially favoured. Scalation details (as given in Branch): small elongate temporal borders each parietal. Crescent-shaped tympanic scale above ear opening. Lower eyelids scaly. Subocular borders the lip. Dorsal scales: small and keeled at midbody, 63-71 transverse rows at midbody. Collar: present. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows. Other: 12-18 femoral pores beneath each thigh, 2-3 keels on scales beneath toes. Coloration: Adults are overall grey- to red-brown with indistinct black transverse bars and three light dorsal longitudinal stripes: the middle one divides on the neck and extends onto the tail. Tail is usually pale brown and there are pale spots on the legs. Ventral surfaces are white. See below for the coloration of hatchlings. Reproduction: female lays 4-6 eggs in a chamber dug in loose sand. Eggs hatch December-May. An interesting feature is that the hatchlings are jet black, with broken yellow-white dorsal and lateral stripes and a sand-coloured tail: this, and their jerky and stiff way of movement, makes them effective mimics of a local beetle which can squirt pungent acidic fluid at predators, and thus grants them some protection. |
| H. neumanni | Neumann's Sand Lizard | Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania | 5½-5¾" (14½cm) | Formerly classified as an Eremias and then a Mesalina species: see EMBL database entry for details. There is little information available on the natural history of this terrestrial species [SKDA]. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): nostril pierced between 3 nasals and 6 longitudinal rows of ventral scales. Frontal scale contacts supraoculars. Lower nasal excluded from rostral. Subocular borders mouth. Dorsal scales: small, strongly keeled but not pointed nor overlapping, 40-42 transverse rows at midbody, middorsal scales larger than those on flanks. Temporal scales: numerous small scales in temple region. Collar: straight, 6-7 plates. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows, 25-26 transverse rows. Other: 24-25 bicarinate lamellae beneath 4th toe, 10-11 femoral pores beneath each thigh. Coloration: dark brownish-black, distinctive orange-red limbs and tail. Pattern consists of one three paler longitudinal dorsal stripes and two light lateral stripes. Most individuals found hve a single distinctive lateral light spot on the side of the body above the origin of the forelimbs. Reproduction: no details available. |
| H. nitida | ? | N Nigeria, Togo, Benin, N Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire), Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Cameroon | " ? | Three subspecies: H. n. nitida, H. n. garambensis and H. n. quadrinasalis. |
| H. spekii | Speke's Sand Lizard | S Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, S Sudan, S Ethiopia | 7½" (18cm) | Formerly described as Eremias species. There are three subspecies, but SKDA seem to imply that the differences are not necessarily subspecific: they note that the northern specimens used to be considered H. s. sextaeniata. H. spekii is often found in the same areas as Latastia longicaudata and in three areas with the less common Pseuderemias smithii [SKDA]. It occurs in low-lying dry country, often beneath bushes. It is active in the heat of the day but often shelters between periods of activity [SKDA]. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): Frontal scale separated from supraoculars by small scales. Lower nasal in broad contact with rostral. Subocular tends to contact the mouth in more northern specimens but is often excluded from the mouth in southern specimens (hence the question of subspecies). Dorsal scales: small, rhombic and stronly keeled at midbody, 63-71 transverse rows at midbody. Temporal scales: head shields flat, strong and finely striated. Collar: curved, 7-10 plates. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows, 23-30 transverse rows. Other: 13-18 femoral pores beneath each thigh, 22-24 bicarinate lamellae beneath 4th toe. Coloration: overall sandy or pale brown. 5-6 white longitudinal stripes that vary between sharp and indistinct. On the brown-coloured areas between the stripes run rows of evenly spaced black lateral bands: the effect is that of a tiger-like camouflage beneath the white stripes. The two middle stripes begin at the neck and join at the base of the tail and continue down it some way as a single stripe. The lateral stripes appear to extend forward to the eye and lip respectively. Again the number of stripes varies with location, 5 being more common in southerly specimens and 6 in the northerly. Ventral surfaces are white but become tan posteriorly. Reproduction: the female lays a clutch of (probably) 4-6 eggs. Hatchlings have well-defined dorsal stripes on a black ground colour and red tails. |
| H. s. spekii | ||||
| H. s. scorteccii | ||||
| H. s. sextaeniata | ||||
For bibliography please refer to main Lacertidae page.
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