About Cordylus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common and Scientific Name
Commonly called the Cape girdled lizard, its scientific name is Cordylus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758).
Body and Scale Characteristics
This lizard has a golden-brown body covered in spiny, keeled scales; the scales are particularly prominent on its tail.
Geographic Range
It is native to the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, with a range extending from Saldanha and Cape Town eastward to Lesotho.
Reproduction and Juvenile Behavior
In autumn, female Cape girdled lizards give birth to one or two live young, which remain very close to their mother for their first year of life.
Feeding Behavior
Cape girdled lizards feed on insects, which they catch by rushing at their prey and pouncing on it.
