[3] Adults have uniform grey and yellowish brown backs with white lateral stripes that may be bordered with dark black spots.

[2] There are two accepted races:[4] It occurs in semi-arid shrub savannas of Africa,[5] where they seek shelter in soft soiled burrows, under rocks and brush.

[7] Life expectancy is 13 to 14 months, and mating occurs in the spring with hatchlings appearing in late summer from October to December.

[2] Based on morphological evidence from the capensis species, southern African genus Ichnotropis and North American genus Psammodromus diverged from a common ancestor in the lineage of Lacerta lepida and Lacerta monticola during the Oligocene epoch (24 to 36 million years ago).

[9][10] They may have other predators as well, as they are small lizards, but there is no evidence suggesting that they are endangered or hunted by indigenous people who live near their habitat.