Cape Flat Lizard

Taxobox
name = Cape Flat Lizard


regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
familia = Cordylidae
genus = "Platysaurus"
species = P. capensis
binomial = "Platysaurus capensis"
binomial_authority = Smith 1844 [Cite web | url = http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/search.php?submit=Search&genus=Platysaurus | title = Platysaurus Species | work = The Reptile Database | accessdate = 2007-09-04] The Cape Flat Lizard is a lizard in the Cordylidae family.

Description

Females and juveniles have a dark brown back with three wide white stripes which run down head to tail. Their bellies are white with a black blotch in the center. Adult males, on the other hand, have the upper half of their body bright blue, sometimes with pale spots or stripes. The back half, including the tail, is dark red. Adults are 5 to 6.6 inches long.

Geography

This lizard lives in the southwestern part of Africa, in South Africa and Namibia. The Cape Flat Lizard lives in deserts with many rocks.

Habits

Cape Flat Lizards hunt by ambush, waiting under a shady spot for an insect to pass by. It will also eat flowers and berries. Cape Flat Lizards are shy and often run for cover when threatened. People often see these lizards from a distance on top of rocks. They may live in small groups. Cape Flat Lizards lay their eggs in November or December.

ee also

*Platysaurus
*Cordylidae

Footnotes

External links

* [http://animals.jrank.org/pages/3742/Girdled-Plated-Lizards-Cordylidae-CAPE-FLAT-LIZARD-Platysaurus-capensis-SPECIES-ACCOUNT.html More Information]