Lygodactylus capensis (Smith, 1849)

Size

Males of this species reach a snout-to-vent length of 39 mm, while females reach 43 mm.

Ventral Coloration

The throat is stippled with grey or brown, and the belly is cream coloured.

Dorsal Coloration

The back is grey-brown, with a dark streak running from the snout to the shoulder or further.

Tail Morphology

Its tail has a distinctive feature: the underside is covered in adhesive lamellae, which allows the tail to function as a fifth limb.

Species Distribution

This species can be found in South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Mozambique and Tanzania, including Pemba Island.

Range Expansion

Within South Africa, its range has expanded southward and westward toward coastal areas since 1981.