Limpopo girdled lizard

Limpopo girdled lizard

Jones's armadillo lizard, Jones's girdled lizard

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Cordylus jonesii

The Limpopo girdled lizard (Cordylus jonesii), also known commonly as Jones's armadillo lizard and Jones's girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to Southern Africa.

Animal name origin

The specific name, jonesii, is in honor of a "Mr. C. R. Jones" who collected the holotype. The type locality is the Murchison Range in Limpopo.

Appearance

The dorsal pattern of C. jonesii 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. The Limpopo girdled lizard has 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 total length (including tail) is about 166 mm (6.5 in).

Distribution

Geography

C. jonesii is found along South Africa's border with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Habits and Lifestyle

The Limpopo girdled lizard is arboreal and inhabits dry forests, especially mopane woodland. It hides under loose bark and in hollow tree limbs.

Diet and Nutrition

Population

References

1. Limpopo girdled lizard Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpopo_girdled_lizard

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