Pseudocordylus microlepidotus
Silhouette: SeismicShrimp · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus, or the Cape crag lizard, is a species of lizard native to shrublands and grasslands of South Africa. Three subspecies have been named: Pseudocordylus microlepidotus microlepidotus, Pseudocordylus microlepidotus fasciatus, and Pseudocordylus microlepidotus namaquensis. The species' gestation type is ovoviviparous. The species is protected under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The two sexes are similar in size; however, males have larger heads and develop more glands than females. The sexes begin to differentiate before sexual maturity. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De Hoop Nature Reserve | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Crag Lizard sighting in Garden Route National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 34th most-seen of the 35 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January–February, April and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Crag Lizard in Garden Route National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, May–August and October–December, the lowest months.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cape Crag Lizard sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
3rd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Cape Crag Lizard sightings, Garden Route National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in De Hoop Nature Reserve (South Africa, about 40%) and Table Mountain National Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same family: Cordylidae
The closest relatives of the Cape Crag Lizard that you can see in Garden Route National Park (family Cordylidae, Girdle-tail Lizards) are Blue-spotted Girdled Lizard (about 20%), Cape Girdled Lizard (about 10%) and Cape Snake Lizard (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Cape Crag Lizard is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Garden Route National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
