About Ninurta coeruleopunctatus (Hewitt & Methuen, 1913)
Taxonomic Identity
Ninurta coeruleopunctatus (originally described by Hewitt & Methuen in 1913, with the synonym Cordylus coeruleopunctatus), commonly known as the blue-spotted girdled lizard or simply the blue-spotted lizard, is the only species in the monotypic genus Ninurta.
Endemic Range
This species is endemic to coastal southern South Africa.
Body Armor Variation
As a member of the subfamily Cordylinae, Ninurta coeruleopunctatus shows considerable variation in its body armor.
Body Armor Evolution Drivers
This variation stems from diverse evolutionary pressures acting on the subfamily, and environmental aridity is the key driver of the evolution of this body armor.
