Trachylepis varia (Peters, 1867)

So I know that it can seem that I have a thing about invertebrates, so much that people (well, tourists) have asked me "Do you work in entomology?" or something to that effect.

But my primary fields of study were actually ecology and genetics, and my primary areas of interest are conservation and... herpetology.

This is to placate that unfed interest.

 - Eukaryota
   - Animalia
     - Eumetazoa
       - Bilateralia
         - Nephrozoa -see also Ligia oceanica, Dicranopalpus ramosus, Hyllus argyrotoxus, Pseudagrion hageni, Sybilla, Stictogryllacris punctata, Cyathosternum prehensile, Pephricus, Anoplocnemis curvipes, Ennalagma cyathigerum, Hagenomyia tristis, Synagris proserpina, Melolontha melolontha, Otiorhynchus atroapterus, Demetrias atricapillus, Anthia fornasinii, Zebronia phenice, Laelia robusta, Anthocharis cardamines, Acada biseriata, Panorpa germanica, Megistocera filipes, Diasemopsis meigenii, Episyrphus balteatus, Helophus pendulus and Senaspis haemorrhoa
           - Deuterostomia
             - Chordata
               - Craniata
                 - Vertebrata
                   - Gnathostomata
                     - Teleostomi
                       - Osteichthyes
                         - Sarcopterygii
                           - Tetrapoda
                             - Reptiliomorpha
                               - Amniota - see also Hipposideros vittatus.
                                 - Reptilia
                                   - Romeriida
                                     - Diapsida
                                       - Sauria - see also Chalcophaps indica , Ardea goliath and  Sterna hirundo.
                                         - Lepidosauromorpha
                                           - Lepidosauria 
                                             - Squamata
                                               - Scleroglossa - see also Thelotornis capensis and Lygodactylus capensis.
                                                 - Scincomorpha
                                                   - Scincidae
                                                     - Lygosominae

Trachylepis varia

(Peters, 1867)

As you may be able to guess from the specific epithet (varia), this is a rather variable species, which - in addition to the uncharted diversity of tropical african reptiles - makes it a bit difficult to say with certainty that it IS this species. However, based on the facial scales of species of Trachlyepis known in Southern Africa (which Lusaka city is only just outside of), it should be this species. Should being the operative word. 

And here it is: 

Its rather pointed face readily separates this species from the common urban species in the genus, Trachylepis striatus, although in most populations, the overall pattern is sufficient for that. The males were more frequently seen, and seemed to develop earthy-red hindquarters as the breeding season approached:

Both photographed in Chongwe, Lusaka, Zambia - male in August 2011, female in October 2011.