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Cordylus
The genus ''Cordylus'' (Sauria: Cordylidae) includes a wide variety of species of small to medium spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed lizards or girdled lizards. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous (live-bearing, without shelled eggs). Most species are rupicolous (rock-dwelling), while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows. They defend themselves with osteoderms (flat bony plates in the skin) and by quickly retreating into rock crevices or burrows. Many species live in groups, and males defend territories. Cordylids are generally listed under CITES Appendix II. They are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade is controlled to prevent overexploitation. Some species of ''Cordylus'' have limited ranges and may be threatened with habitat destruction or over collecting for the pet trade. Classification Broadley (2006) recognized 47 species in the genus ''Cordylus'', including eight species originally placed in the genus '' Pseudocordylus'' ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordylus Angolensis
The Angolan girdled lizard (''Cordylus angolensis''), also known as the Angolan spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus ''Cordylus''. The species is endemic to Angola, as its names testify, and is ovoviviparous. Reproduction ''C. angolensis'' is ovoviviparous Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous and live-bearing viviparous reproduction. Ovoviviparous animals possess embryos that develop insi ..., meaning females keep eggs inside their bodies until ready to hatch. References Further reading * Bocage JVB. 1895. ''Herpétologie d'Angola et du Congo''. Lisbon: ''Ministère de la Marine et des Colonies''. (''Imprimerie nationale'', printer). xx + 203 pp. + Plates I-XIX. (''Zonurus angolensis'', new species, pp. 24–25). (in French). Endemic fauna of Angola Cordylus Reptiles of Angola Reptiles described in 1895 Taxa named by José Vicente B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Armadillo Girdled Lizard
The armadillo girdled lizard (''Ouroborus cataphractus''), www.reptile-database.org. also commonly known as the armadillo lizard, the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, and the golden-armadillo lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to desert areas along the western coast of South Africa. In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus ''Cordylus''. Description The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration. The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. Its size can range from in snout-vent length (SVL). It may grow to a maximum size of SVL."''Cordylus cataphractus'' "Arkive Distribution and habitat ''O. cataphractus'' is endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome in the Northern and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa, where it occurs from the southern Richtersveld to the Piketberg Mountains and the southern Ta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordylus Beraduccii
''Cordylus beraduccii'', also known commonly as the Maasai girdled lizard, is a species of girdled lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to East Africa. Geographic range ''C. beraduccii'' is found in Kenya and Tanzania, where it lives in the Maasai plains from the Ngong Hills to Dodoma. Habitat The Maasai girdled lizard is a rock-dwelling species that tends to prefer rock outcroppings in savannas or temperate forests. Reproduction The Maasai girdled lizard reproduces both sexually and asexually. It is an ovoviviparous species, meaning that the female parent produces eggs that hatch in the body, resulting in a live birth. Usually 1-5 young are born. Captivity Because of the Maasai girdled lizard's timid behavior and ability to easily reproduce asexually in captivity, it is quite common in the pet trade. It is the second most common girdled lizard bred in captivity behind the East African spiny-tailed lizard (''Cordylus tropidosternum''), and both species ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordylus Tropidosternum
The East African armadillo lizard, dwarf sungazer, or tropical girdled lizard (''Cordylus tropidosternum'') is a species of arboreal or rupicolous (rock-dwelling) lizard endemic to East Africa. Habitat The preferred habitat of the East African armadillo lizard is dry forests. Geographic range ''C. tropidosternum'' ranges from the southern Kenya through Tanzania and Malawi to southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, northeast Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Behavior Dwarf sungazers are diurnal. They lay down fat reserves in preparation for the dry season. Description Tropical girdled lizards are brown above with dark brown and cream spots or thin dark bands. A conspicuous black stripe runs along each side of the neck from the ear to the shoulder. The lips, throat, and belly are cream. The tail is very spiny. Adults are in total length (including tail). Males have slightly wider heads than females (The length of a male's head is about 1.25 times the width, whereas the l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordylus Cordylus
''Cordylus cordylus'', the Cape girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard indigenous to the southern Cape region of South Africa, where it inhabits crags, rocky outcrops and mountain summits. They evade predators by wedging themselves firmly in rock cracks. Description left, Specimen from the Western Cape The Cape girdled lizard has a golden-brown body with spiny, keeled body scales, especially on its tail. Range It is indigenous to the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, from Saldanha and Cape Town eastwards as far as Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou .... Food They feed on insects, which are caught by rushing and pouncing. Habits They live in large colonies (with social hierarchies) on crags, rocky outcrops and mountain summits. They can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cordylidae
Cordylidae is a family of small- to medium-sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa. They are commonly known as girdled lizards, spinytail lizards, or girdle-tail lizards. Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae, occurring in Africa and Madagascar. These two scientific families of lizards, known as Cordyliformes or Cordyloidea, are sometimes combined into a larger concept of Cordylidae. Recent molecular analyses confirm the clade made up of Cordylidae and Gerrhosauridae (Cordyloidea) and place it in a larger clade including Xantusiidae ( Cordylomorpha Vidal & Hedges, 2009).Nicolas Vidal; S. Blair HedgeThe molecular evolutionary tree of lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians/ref> Description and behavior Girdled lizards are diurnal and insectivorous. They are terrestrial, mostly inhabiting crevices in rocky terrain, although at least one species digs burrows and another lives under exfoliating bark on trees. They have flattened heads and bodies, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Smaug (lizard)
''Smaug'' is a genus of lizards in the family Cordylidae. The genus ''Smaug'' is a group of species of spiny southern African lizards, separated from the genus ''Cordylus'' in 2011 on the basis of a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Cordylidae. The type species is the giant girdled lizard, ''S. giganteus'' (formerly ''Cordylus giganteus''). Etymology The genus ''Smaug'' was named for the character Smaug, in J. R. R. Tolkien's ''The Hobbit'': Smaug is the name of the dragon encountered by Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of J.R.R. Tolkien's book ''The Hobbit''. According to Tolkien the name is derived from the Old German verb ''smeugen'' – to squeeze through a hole. Like the type species, Smaug lived underground and was heavily armored. Appropriately Tolkien was born in the Free State province, South Africa, the core area of distribution of the type species. The name is masculine. ''Zonurus'', the former genus name, is from Greek ''zōnē'' 'girdle' + ''oura'' 'tail'. Des ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karusasaurus
''Karusasaurus'', commonly known as Karusa lizards, is a genus of lizards in the family Cordylidae. Its species were previously considered to be included in the genus ''Cordylus'', but more recent studies have shown that they are distinct enough to have their own genus. Description and distribution ''Karusasaurus'' contains two species, which are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, specifically, in the semi-arid areas of South Africa and Namibia. Like all girdled lizards, they are insectivores. They come in a great range of colors, including black, red, and turquoise. Species *''Karusasaurus jordani'' – Jordan's girdled lizard, Namibian girdled lizard *''Karusasaurus polyzonus'' – Karoo girdled lizard, southern Karusa lizard ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ninurta Coeruleopunctatus
''Ninurta coeruleopunctatus'' (syn. ''Cordylus coeruleopunctatus''), the blue-spotted girdled lizard or simply blue-spotted lizard, is a monotypic genus that is endemic to southern, coastal South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri .... References External links Blue-spotted girdled lizard* ''Ninurta'' gen. nov.Stanley et al, 2011 Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae) * Cordylidae Reptiles described in 1913 Endemic reptiles of South Africa Taxa named by Paul Ayshford Methuen Taxa named by John Hewitt (herpetologist) {{lizard-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pseudocordylus
''Pseudocordylus'' is a genus of small to large girdled lizards from South Africa, commonly known as crag lizards. Six species of ''Pseudocordylus'' are known; they are distinguished from girdled lizards of the genus ''Cordylus'' by the presence of granular scales on the back instead of osteoderms. Species The following six species are recognized as being valid."''Pseudocordylus''". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. *'' Pseudocordylus langi'' – Lang's crag lizard *'' Pseudocordylus melanotus'' – Common crag lizard *'' Pseudocordylus microlepidotus'' – Cape crag lizard *'' Pseudocordylus spinosus'' – Spiny crag lizard *'' Pseudocordylus subviridis'' – Drakensberg crag lizard *'' Pseudocordylus transvaalensis'' – Northern crag lizard ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of namin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Platysaurus
''Platysaurus'' is a genus of lizards, commonly known as flat lizards for their flat backs, in the family Cordylidae. Geographic range All species in the genus ''Platysaurus'' live in isolated populations in southern Africa. They are found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, eastern Botswana, southern Namibia and northern and western South Africa. Description The species of ''Platysaurus'' exhibit sexual dimorphism. Females and juveniles often have black or brown backs with white stripes, while males are much more colored. Also, males are somewhat larger than females. Species The described species are: The Reptile Database. *'' Platysaurus attenboroughi'' – Attenborough's flat lizard * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hemicordylus
''Hemicordylus'', the false girdled lizards, is a genus comprising two lizard species endemic to the Cape Fold Belt of southern South Africa. Description Their maximum snout-to-vent length is about 76 mm. They have gracile features, with a phenotype which is described as intermediate between typical ''Cordylus'' and the larger, more robust '' Pseudocordylus''. They have long limbs, and long slender digits. Some populations are melanistic and sexually dichromatic.''Hemicordylus'' resurrected: The melanistic populations have been shown to be ecotypes rather than relics in the related genus ''Karusasaurus''. Habits Their specialized adaptation to steep rock faces, is believed to have favoured their agility and lightly armored anatomy.Eifler et al., 2007; Janse van Rensburg, 2009; Janse van Rensburg et al., 2009 They give live birth to 1–3 young. Species * ''Hemicordylus capensis'' – false girdled lizard * ''Hemicordylus nebulosus ''Hemicordylus nebulosus'' is a spec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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