Namaqua girdled lizard
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Endemic, SVL 75 - 80 mm, max SVL 82 mm
A small,thin girdled lizard with a flattened body and triangular, flat head with rough shields (but with smooth second and third supraoculars). The nasals are slightly tubular and in contact, separating the rostral and the frontonasal. The lower eyelids are opaque.There are eight occipitals, the middle ones often being small. The dorsal scales are smooth on the back and moderately spiny on the flanks,in 27-31 rows. The ventrals are mostly smooth,in 16-18 longitudinal rows. There is a pair of enlarged preanal plates. and both sexes have 9-10 femoral pores on each thigh. The tail has whorls of large, spiny scales. The back is chestnut to light brown in colour, usuallt with dark brown to black mottling. The side of the head has two blackish streaks. The lower labials are black-edged, and the belly is dirty white to pale brown. Biology and breeding : Rare; lives in rock cracks and crevices in mountains. Feeds on termites and beetles. Two to three young born in January-February after four to five months gestation. Habitat : Semi-desert. Range : Great Karasberg district in S.Namibia.