- Limpopo Girdled Lizard
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Cordylus jonesii Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Cordylidae Genus: Cordylus Species: C. jonesii Binomial name Cordylus jonesii The Limpopo Girdled Lizard (Cordylus jonesii) lives along South Africa’s border with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. These lizards are arboreal inhabitants of dry forests, where they hide under loose bark and in hollow tree limbs.
The dorsal pattern varies from red to brown to gray with dark spots or lines. On some individuals the lines fuse into a black-bordered white stripe along the midline of the back. Limpopo Girdled Lizards have a distinct dark dorsolateral stripe running from the head to the hips. The belly, throat, and lips are cream to yellow. The tail is very spiny and about 45% the total length of the animal. The maximum length is about 166 mm.
The Limpopo Girdled Lizard is sometimes classified as a subspecies of the Tropical Girdled Lizard (Cordylus tropidosternum). When both species are held together, the Limpopo Girdled Lizard has a noticeable shorter snout. The nostril pierces the center of the nasal scale (the lower posterior corner of the nasal in C. tropidosternum). Scales on the throat and belly of Limpopo Girdled Lizards are smooth instead of keeled.
Limpopo Girdled Lizards are exported from Mozambique for the pet trade, where they are often mislabeled as Cordylus vittifer. They make hardy captives, feeding on insects and other small arthropods.
References
Branch, B., 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 p.
Broadley, D. G., and Branch, W. R., 2002. A review of the small east African Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae), with the description of a new species: African Journal of Herpetology, 51(1): 9-34.
Extant Cordylidae species Chamaesaura Cordylus PlatysaurusBroadley's Flat Lizard (P. broadleyi) · Cape Flat Lizard (P. capensis) · Common Flat Lizard (P. intermedius) · Dwarf Flat Lizard (P. guttatus) · Emperor Flat Lizard (P. imperator) · Lebombo Flat Lizard (P. lebomboensis) · Mitchell's Flat Lizard (P. mitchchelli) · Ocellated Flat Lizard (P. ocellatus) · Orange throated Flat Lizard (P. monotropis) · Pungwe Flat Lizard (P. pungweensis) · Sekukhune Flat Lizard (P. orientalis) · Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (P. relictus) · Spotted Flat Lizard (P. maculatus) · Striped Flat Lizard (P. torquatus) · Waterberg Flat Lizard (P. minor)Pseudocordylus Lang's Crag Lizard (P. langi) · Prickly Girdled Lizard (P. spinosus) · P. capensis · Categories:- Cordylus
- Reptiles of South Africa
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