Eastwood's long-tailed seps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eastwood's longtailed seps |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Tetradactylus
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| Species: |
eastwoodae
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Eastwood's longtailed seps (Tetradactylus eastwoodae) was a special kind of lizard. People also called it Eastwood's whip lizard. It belonged to the Gerrhosauridae family of lizards. This lizard only lived in South Africa. Its home was in grassy areas high up in the mountains. Sadly, it is now extinct because its habitat (its natural home) was destroyed.
Contents
Why is it Called Eastwood's Longtailed Seps?
This lizard's scientific name, eastwoodae, honors Miss A. Eastwood. She was the person who first found and collected a sample of this lizard. This first sample is called a holotype.
What Did Eastwood's Longtailed Seps Look Like?
Eastwood's longtailed seps looked a bit like a snake. It had very small legs. Its front legs had only three toes each. Its back legs had just two toes each.
How Did Eastwood's Longtailed Seps Reproduce?
This lizard was oviparous. This means it laid eggs, just like many other reptiles.
Why Did Eastwood's Longtailed Seps Become Extinct?
The last known place where Eastwood's longtailed seps lived was near Haenertsburg in South Africa. This was close to Woodbush, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of where the Magoebaskloof hotel is today.
In the early 1900s, around 1911, only two of these lizards were ever found there. After that time, the area changed a lot. Large numbers of Eucalyptus and Pinus trees were planted for business.
These new tree farms replaced the natural grasslands where the lizards lived. Their home was completely destroyed. Scientists have searched the remaining grasslands. But they have not found any living Eastwood's longtailed seps since 1911. Because of this, the species is now considered extinct.
