Common Flat Lizard (Platysaurus intermedius)
Habitat & Distribution
Found in savannahs, typically near large rocky outcroppings
Resides throughout southern Africa, from southern Malawi to South Africa
Physical Description
Weight: Approximately 24 g (0.8 oz)
Length: 22 to 23 cm (8.6 to 9 in)
The common flat lizard has a flat, rectangular body and a thick tail
Coloration is highly variable between subspecies; patterns may be white, green, yellow, red, blue, or black
Behaviour
Common flat lizards form social colonies that can be quite large, with males maintaining overlapping territories
They nest in deep crevices in the rock, and seldom stray far from shelter
They mainly forage on insects, as well as flowers and fruit
The main predator is the kestral
Key Advantages
Common flat lizards can move extremely quickly when threatened
They are capable of squeezing into very narrow spaces to avoid predators
Photo by Gary Kyle Nicolau
