Bushviper wrote:This one is actually a very pretty one from just west of Pretoria. They are usually rather ugly. Their locality within the suburbs of Pretoria have been urbanised and they are probably extinct in this locality.
Unfortunately I never recorded where this specimen came from and I have a suspicion it was also from the northern part of the Limpopo province.
I went through the archives and saw this again.
You are right with regards to rocky ridge caudalis being extinct in the restricted region with its unusual habitat.
I have herped the remains of the habitat looking for mtDNA numerous times without results.
Another sympatric species which is rapidly dissapearing from the area is Cordylus vittifer.
You just dont see them at all.
Unlike Pacydactylus affinis, only a single specimen was found on the many trips.
This is rather tragic really as the habitat has become home to hobos and squatters, or as you said rapid urbanization.
Tswane municipality's attempt to fence off the last remaining ridge habitat has failed as there are numerous access points which are made use of by the homeless and trespassers.
During one of the outings I actually found a hobo's Hustler magazine. I had tweezers to turn the pages with at least
We are putting our hopes on a small area which resides on a guarded and fenced off mining property but the habitat around the fenced off area is also completely gone.
With regards to the last photo. It may very well pass as a ridge caudalis with the grey colour. An archived photo resembled it rather closely.
Thanks again for the advice and input around the small survey.
Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life ~
Rachel Carson