Pedioplanis namaquensis
Without their tails, Namaqua Sand Lizards grow to around 5cm and weigh only about 4g. They inhabit arid savannas, scrubland and semi-deserts, and specifically open sandy or gravelly areas. These diurnal lizards are extremely active, constantly dashing around at great speed in search of food, which is mainly small insects. At night and during cold spells they stay in burrows dug at the base of bushes. Females lie 3-5 eggs in early summer. Namaqua Sand Lizards occur from the Eastern Cape Province northwards through South Africa’s arid western parts, as well as Botswana and Namibia to southern Angola.
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Namaqua Sand Lizard
Namaqua Sand Lizard
DeWetsWild 
Oulike outjies
Defnitief, Tina!
So cute. There are little lizards similar to these where my parents live in Arizona and I always enjoy watching them. They can move so quickly!
janet
They’re like little arrows out of a bow!
It’s such a shame these cute little lizards aren’t found in KZN. I like lizards and have quite a few varieties living on my garden walls and behind plant pots. One, similar to the Namaqua Sand Lizard but about 20 cm long, lives in my letterbox.
KZN really has many unique and spectacular reptiles. I bet those lizards of yours bring much joy to you daily, Kim. Have you ever tried identifying them?
Beautiful little lizard!😊 I like reptiles and they need to be protected, especially snakes because the human kill them because they are scared for them. Even non poison snakes as the grass snake we have here in Sweden who is protected by law, but the municipality have removed theirs egg piles two years in a row and I have reported them to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen, but they don´t do nothing. Why have laws if some authorities don´t need to follow them?
It really is horrifying to hear that even in a rich, developed country with a highly skilled and educated population, there’s still so little regard for the natural world, John. I hope that you’ll not be disheartened and keep fighting for the protection of those beautiful snakes!
Those are beautiful little creatures! In the many years when I lived in the Sonoran desert in Arizona I fell in love with lizards and always greatly enjoy seeing them. We had fringe-toed sand lizards there and they appear to be not too distant relatives of these.
They’re such an ancient group of creatures, and yet still so perfectly adapted to their world!
Lovely capture…
Thank you, Sue!
Is that an animal shadow in that one photo? I am so glad these little guys dash around at great speeds, cause that shadow looks pretty darn close!
Luckily for this particular lizard it is only a rock’s shadow looming over it, Lois. But their speed certainly isn’t only used to race after prey!