Peers' girdled lizard
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Endemic, SVL 75 - 80 mm, max SVL 85 mm
This small,thin lizard has a flattened body and triangular, flat head with rough shields. The nasals are swollen and in contact, separating the rostral and the frontonasal. The subocular borders the lip. The lower eyelids are opaque.There are six occipitals, the middle pair of which is often small. The dorsal scales are keeled on the back and moderately spiny on the flanks,in 22-24 transverse and 16 longitudinal rows. The ventrals are mostly smooth, and in 12 longitudinal rows. There is a pair of enlarged preanal plates. and both sexes have 9-12 femoral pores on each thigh. The tail has whorls of large, spiny scales. The back and tail are jet-black. The belly is very dark purple-brown, with pale yellow femoral pores and glandular scales. Biology : Visible when basking on light-coloured rocks, but quickly retreats into a deep crack when approached. Prefers the upper surfaces of large shattered boulders on small, rocky outcrops. Some may be home to several lizards. Captures large insects and caterpillars. Habitat : Succulent karroid veld. Range : Little Namaqualand.