Angolan girdled lizard | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Family: | Cordylidae |
Genus: | Cordylus |
Species: | C. angolensis |
Binomial name | |
Cordylus angolensis | |
Synonyms | |
The Angolan girdled lizard (Cordylus angolensis), also known as the Angolan spiny-tailed lizard, [2] is a species of lizard in the genus Cordylus . The species is endemic to Angola, as its names testify, [3] [4] [5] and is ovoviviparous. [3]
C. angolensis is ovoviviparous, [3] meaning females keep eggs inside their bodies until ready to hatch.
The genus Cordylus includes a wide variety of species of small to medium spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed lizards or girdled lizards. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous. Most species are rupicolous (rock-dwelling), while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows. They defend themselves with osteoderms and by quickly retreating into rock crevices or burrows. Many species live in groups, and males defend territories.
The armadillo girdled lizard, also commonly known as the armadillo lizard, the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, and the golden-armadillo lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to desert areas along the western coast of South Africa. In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus Cordylus.
The Angolan slender mongoose is a mongoose native to southwestern Africa, specifically southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia. It has been listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, as it is not threatened and thought to be common. It has a long, slim body and there are different colour forms, a black or dark brown form in the southern part of its range, and a yellowish- or reddish-brown form in the north. This mongoose inhabits dry, rocky habitats and feeds on insects, scorpions and small vertebrates.
Leptopelis marginatus is a species of frog in the family Arthroleptidae. It is endemic to western Angola and only known from the holotype collected from Quissange. The holotype was lost in the fire of the Natural History Museum of Lisbon in 1978. The validity of this species is in question; it might be a synonym of Leptopelis bocagii or considered a nomen dubium. Common name Quissange forest treefrog has been proposed for it.
The Angola lark or Angola bushlark is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae found in southern and central Africa.
The sungazer, also known as the giant girdled lizard, giant dragon lizard, ouvolk, or giant zonure, is the largest species of the Cordylidae, a family of lizards from sub-Saharan Africa. This threatened species is endemic to Highveld grasslands in the interior of South Africa. In 2011, it was assigned to the new genus Smaug, along with seven other species previously belonging to the genus Cordylus, based on a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Cordylidae.
Lawrence's girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
Hemicordylus nebulosus is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. It is endemic to South Africa on the mist belt of northern slope of the Hottentots Holland Mountains. The scientific name, H. nebulosus means cloud or dark crag lizard. The name was given due to the melanistic body color. Other names include the dwarf cliff lizard, dwarf crag lizard, dark crag lizard and the cloudy crag lizard.
Machadoe's girdled lizard is a flattened girdled lizard from southwestern Angola and northwestern Namibia. They are found as solitary individuals or in pairs on rock outcrops in arid savannah. It can be identified, along with Cordylus vittifer, by have an elongate first row of dorsal scales. Machadoe's girdled lizard is uniform yellow brown above and paler below. The head is dark brown with pale lips. The pale vertebral stripe found in the Cordylus vittifer is not present. Adults reach 78 mm in length from snout to vent.
Warren's girdled lizard is a species of relatively large, flattened lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.
The Cape grass lizard, also known as the Cape snake lizard or the highland grass lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Chamaesaura. It widely found in southern Africa, inhabiting grasslands. In one of the countries it lives in, Eswatini, it is listed as a Near Threatened species.
The large-scale grass lizard, also known as the large-scaled snake lizard, Zambian grass lizard, or Zambian snake lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Chamaesaura. It lives scattered across southern Africa with two subspecies.
The rock monitor is a species of monitor lizard in the family Varanidae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is on average the largest lizard found on the continent, and is locally called leguaan or likkewaan.
Namazonurus campbelli, commonly known as Campbell's girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. A small girdled lizard, N. campbelli is endemic to Namibia. It is often mistaken for the more common Herero girdled lizard, N. pustulatus, as they both are similar in size and have flattened bodies. N. campbelli lives in rock crevices and cracks on dry mountain slopes
Van Dam's girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
Cordylus beraduccii, also known commonly as the Maasai girdled lizard, is a species of girdled lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to East Africa.
Cordylus namakuiyus, the Kaokoveld girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Angola.
Cordylus phonolithos, the N’Dolondolo girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Angola.