Black girdled lizard
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Endemic, SVL 70 - 80 mm, max SVL 92 mm
A medium-sized girdled lizard with a flattened body and triangular, flattened head with smooth head shields. Males do not have larger heads than females. The nasals are usually in contact, separating the rostral and the frontonasal, which is in contact with the loreals. The prefrontals are not in contact. The subocular usually reaches the lip, and the prefrontals are usually in contact. The anterior parietals are smaller than the posterior ones. The occipinals are rectangular and smooth. The dorsal scales, which are large and faintly keeled (strongly keeled along backbone), are in 22 - 30 transverse and 16 - 22 longitudinal rows. The ventrals are smooth (but faintly keeled along the flanks) and in 10 longitudinal rows. There is a pair of feebly enlarged preanal plates. There are 5- 10 femoral pores on each thigh. Females lack glandular scales in front of femoral pores. The tail has whorls of large spines. Coloration is uniform jet-black, but slightly paler below. Biology and breeding : A solitary species sheltering in small cracks. Its black colour enables it to absorb heat on avercast, misty days. Habitat : Rock outcrops in coastal fynbos. Range : Restricted to Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, with an isolated population on coastal rocks around Saldanha Bay.