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Armadillo girdled lizard
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Endemic SVL 75 - 90 mm, max SVL 105 mm
This thick-set flattened girdled lizard has a broad head. The scales on the sides of the neck have sharp spines. The nasals are in contact, separating the rostral and frontonasal. It has six large, keeled occipitals. There are 15-17 broad, sometimes assymetrical, bands of spiny scales around its body. The tail is ringed with large spines. Males have prominent femoral porse (13-16 on each side). The back is plain, dirty yellowish-brown. The upper lips are dark brown. The throut is yellow(especially in males) or violet, with dark brown blotches. The belly is yellow, with darker infusions, particularly on the inner surfaces of the limbs. Biology and breeding : This heavy armoured, lovable lizard is too often illegaly collected (SA RDB Vulnerable). It lives in large cracks in low rock outcrops, and feeds on the insects attracted by the floral spledout of Namaqualand. In an unusual behavior for a lizard, it forms family groups that inhabit the same rock cracks. It is very wary and retreats at the first sign of danger. It is very difficult to extract from cracks because of its spiny scales, but if catch in the open, it will bite its tail and roll into a tight ball ( hence its common name), making it too spiny for predators to eat. One or two large bebies are born in late summer. Habitat : Dry, succulent, karoid veld. Range : W. Karoo, from Namaqualand to Matjiesfontein.