''Heliobolus spekii'', also known commonly as Speke's sand lizard, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Lacertidae
The Lacertidae are the family (biology), family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at least 300 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group o ...
. The species is native to
East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa:
Due to the historical ...
and the
Horn of Africa
The Horn of Africa (HoA), also known as the Somali Peninsula, is a large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa.Robert Stock, ''Africa South of the Sahara, Second Edition: A Geographical Interpretation'', (The Guilford Press; 2004), ...
. There are three recognized
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name Specific name may refer to:
* in Database management systems, a system-assigned name that is unique within a particular database
In taxonomy, either of these two meanings, each with its own set of rules:
* Specific name (botany), the two-part (bino ...
, ''spekii'', is in honor of British explorer John Hanning Speke.Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Heliobolus neumanni'', p. 189; ''H. spekii'', p. 249).
Geographic range
''H. spekii'' is found in
Somalia
Somalia, , Osmanya script: đđđđđđđđ; ar, ۧÙŰ”ÙÙ Ű§Ù, aáčŁ-áčąĆ«mÄl officially the Federal Republic of SomaliaThe ''Federal Republic of Somalia'' is the country's name per Article 1 of thProvisional Constituti ...
,
Ethiopia
Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, áąá”áźá”á«, Ătiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...
,
South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot ThudĂ€n), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, PaankÉc CuĂ«ny ThudĂ€n), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
,
Kenya
)
, national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, capital = Nairobi
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Nairobi
, ...
,
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
, and
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...
.
Reproduction
''H. spekii'' is
oviparous
Oviparous animals are animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, most reptiles, and all pterosaurs, dinosaurs (including birds), and ...
.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the
nominotypical subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
.
*''
Heliobolus spekii scorteccii
''Heliobolus'' is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to Africa.
Species
There are six recognized species:Heliobolus spekii sextaeniata
''Heliobolus'' is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to Africa.
Species
There are six recognized species:Heliobolus spekii spekii
''Heliobolus'' is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to Africa.
Species
There are six recognized species:Nota bene
(, or ; plural form ) is a Latin phrase meaning "note well".
It is often abbreviated as NB, n.b., or with the ligature
and first appeared in English writing . In Modern English, it is used, particularly in legal papers, to draw the atten ...
'': A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
other than ''
Heliobolus
''Heliobolus'' is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae. The genus is endemic to Africa.
Species
There are six recognized species:Arillo A, Balletto E, SpanĂČ S (1965). "''II e III spedizione Scortecci in Migiurtinia: il genere ''Eremias'' Wiegmann (Reptilia, Lacertidae)''". ''Bollettino dei Musei e degli Istituti Biologici della UniversitĂ di Genova'' 33: 85â109. (''Eremias spekii scorteccii'', new subspecies). (in Italian).
* Goldberg SR (2009). "Reproduction in Speke's Sand Lizard, ''Heliobolus spekii'' (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Kenya". ''African Herp News'' (48): 2â4.
* GĂŒnther A (1872). "Description of three new Species of ''Eremias'' ". ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Fourth Series'' 9: 381â382. (''Eremias spekii'', new species, p. 381).
* Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). ''Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition''. London: Bloomsbury Natural History. 624 pp. . (''Heliobolus spekii'', p. 199).
* Stejneger L (1893). "On some collections of reptiles and batrachians from East Africa and the adjacent islands, recently received from Dr.
W. L. Abbott
William Louis Abbott (23 February 1860 â 2 April 1936) was an American medical doctor, explorer, ornithologist and field naturalist. He compiled prodigious collections of biological specimens and ethnological artefacts from around the world ...
and Mr.
William Astor Chanler
William Astor "Willie" Chanler (June 11, 1867 â March 4, 1934) was an American soldier, explorer, and politician who served as U.S. Representative from New York. He was a son of John Winthrop Chanler. After spending several years exploring East ...