Large-scaled girdled lizard
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Endemic, SVL 60 - 65 mm, max SVL 70 mm
A small round-bodied girdled lizard. The nasals are in contact, separating the rostral and the frontonasal. There are six strongly keeled occipitals.The nostril pierces the lower part of the nasal. The dorsal scales are very large, strongly-keeled and in 16-18 transverse and 14-18 longitudinal rows. The ventrals are keeled and in 10 rows. There is a pair of enlarged preanal plates, and 10 - 12 femoral pores on each thigh. The tail has whorls of very large spines. The back and flanks are grey to olive-grey, with irregular dark markings. The belly is pale grey. Biology and breeding : Terrestrial,this girdled lizards is found among dead wood or debris at the strand line, or sometimes in soft limestone cracks. Succulent Euphorbia caput-medusae plants in sand dunes are favourite retreat, and may contain up to five lizards. Females grow bigger than males and are more common. The diet consist mainly of beetles. It is a very shy lizard, scutling off when in danger. The olive-grey body is well camouflaged among twigs and dead leaves. One or two young are born in April-May. These measure 60-70mm TL. Habitat : Coastal dunes and strand line. Range : Cape coast, from Yzerfontein to Kleinsee.