Armadillo girdled lizard

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Armadillo girdled lizard
Ouroborus cataphractus 29188261.jpg
Namakwa, Northern Cape, South Africa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus: Ouroborus
Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011
Species:
O. cataphractus
Binomial name
Ouroborus cataphractus
(F. Boie, 1828)
Armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus) IUCN range 2021.svg
IUCN range as of 2021
Synonyms [2]

The armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus), [2] 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. [3] In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus Cordylus . [2] [4] It has the largest known genome of all squamates. [5]

Contents

Description

The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in colouration. The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. Its size can range from 7.5 to 9 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in) in snout-vent length (SVL). It may grow to a maximum size of 8 in (20 cm) STL. [3]

Distribution and habitat

O. cataphractus is endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome in the Northern and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa, where it occurs from the southern Richtersveld to the Piketberg Mountains and the southern Tankwa Karoo. It inhabits rock outcrops mountain slopes, preferably on sandstone substrate. [1]

Ecology

Diet

The armadillo girdled lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but sometimes also may take plant material. [3] [6] In captivity, it is commonly fed crickets. In the wild, its most common prey items are termites, especially Microhodotermes viator [3] and Hodotermes mossambicus. [6] Individuals in larger social groups tend to eat more termites than those in smaller groups [7]

Behaviour

The armadillo girdled lizard is diurnal. It hides in rock cracks and crevices. It lives in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer. [3] [6] Males are territorial, protecting a territory and mating with the females living there. [6]

In its defensive position it looks like an Ourobouros Cu19.jpg
In its defensive position it looks like an Ourobouros

The armadillo girdled lizard possesses an uncommon antipredator adaptation, in which it rolls into a ball and takes its tail in its mouth when frightened. In this shape, it is protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along its back and the spines on its tail. [3] This behaviour, which resembles that of the mythical ouroboros and of the mammalian armadillo, gives it its taxonomic and English common names. [3]

Reproduction

The female armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to one [3] or two [6] live young; the species is one of the few lizards that does not lay eggs. The female may even feed her young, which is also unusual for a lizard. Females give birth once a year at most; some take a year off between births.

One hundred and six individuals from 27 groups were marked and recaptured regularly from May until September 2002. The group that was greater in fidelity had a greater neighbouring distance. While the group that was less in fidelity had a less neighbouring distance. The neighbouring distance correlates to the fidelity of the armadillo girdled lizard species. [8]

Males follow either a prenuptial or postnuptial reproductive cycle. The more common cycle is prenuptial with high sperm count being in the fall and winter seasons. In the postnuptial cycle, males produce the most sperm in the late summer season. [9]

Conservation

The species Ouroborus cataphractus is classified by the IUCN as near threatened. This is mostly due to a general cessation of collection for the pet trade, which was a significant drain on populations but is now illegal. [1] [3] [6] The armadillo girdled lizard is thought to be somewhat susceptible to fluctuations in its primary food source (termites), which in turn can be impacted by climatic events such as changes in rainfall patterns, as well as to habitat changes through invasive alien plant species and poor fire management. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cordylus</i> Genus of lizards

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant girdled lizard</span> Species of reptiles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limpopo girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Limpopo girdled lizard, 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 indigenous to Southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East African spiny-tailed lizard</span> Species of lizard

The East African armadillo lizard, dwarf sungazer, or tropical girdled lizard is a species of arboreal or rupicolous (rock-dwelling) lizard endemic to East Africa.

The Ukinga girdled lizard is a poorly known species of girdled lizard from central Tanzania. They are rupicolous (rock-dwelling) and feed on small arthropods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transvaal girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Transvaal girdled lizard or Reichenow's spiny-tailed lizard is a very flattened girdled lizard from northeastern South Africa, Eswatini, and southeastern Botswana. It prefers rock outcrops in open grassland and feeds on small arthropods, especially beetles.

An isolated population of the Rhodesian girdled lizard from granite outcrops in montane grassland of northern Malawi was recently redescribed as Cordylus nyikae. Unlike the Rhodesian girdled lizard, the head shields of this species are very rugose, the nostrils are pierced in the lower posterior corner of the nasal scales, and the dorsals do not have a serrated posterior margin. The dorsal coloration is dark brown to gray-brown with lighter spots. The tail and upper lips are light brown. The belly is buff. Its common name is Nyika girdled lizard.

Cordylus meculae, the Mecula girdled lizard, is a third species from the Rhodesian girdled lizard complex, and was described from Mount Mecula in northern Mozambique. It lives in granite outcrops of montane grasslands and dry miombo woodland. The nostril pierces the center of the nasal scale and the head shields are rugose. The dorsal coloration is dark brown with paler infusions on the flanks. The head is almost black with yellow lips and scattered yellow flecks on the head and neck. The belly is buff colored.

The Rhodesian girdled lizard is one of three species of very flattened girdled lizards from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. The other two species are Cordylus nyikae and Cordylus meculae. They are found living under stones in rock outcrops where they feed on small arthropods. Adults are 60–90 mm long from snout to vent. The tail length is approximately half the total length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren's girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

Warren's girdled lizard is a species of relatively large, flattened lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.

<i>Hemicordylus</i> Genus of lizards

Hemicordylus, the false girdled lizards, is a genus comprising two lizard species endemic to the Cape Fold Belt of southern South Africa.

<i>Smaug</i> (lizard) Genus of lizards

Smaug is a genus of lizards in the family Cordylidae. The genus Smaug is a group of species of spiny southern African lizards, separated from the genus Cordylus in 2011 on the basis of a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the Cordylidae. The type species is the giant girdled lizard, S. giganteus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Dam's girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

Van Dam's girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

<i>Karusasaurus</i> Genus of lizards

Karusasaurus, commonly known as Karusa lizards, is a genus of lizards in the family Cordylidae.

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.

<i>Smaug breyeri</i> Species of lizard

Smaug breyeri, also known commonly as the Waterberg dragon lizard or the Waterberg girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rooiberg girdled lizard</span> Species of lizard

The Rooiberg girdled lizard is a species of small, spiny lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

The western dwarf girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa.

<i>Namazonurus peersi</i> Species of lizard

Namazonurus peersi is a species of small, spiny lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tolley, K.A.; Alexander, G.J.; Pietersen, D.; Conradie, W.; Weeber, J. (2022). "Ouroborus cataphractus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T5333A197397829. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Species Ouroborus cataphractus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Cordylus cataphractus ". Arkive Archived 2010-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Stanley, Edward L.; Bauer, Aaron M.; Jackman, Todd R.; Branch, William R.; Mouton, P. Le Fras N. (2011). "Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58 (1): 53–70. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.024. PMID   20816817.
  5. ↑ Saha, Anik; Bellucci, Arianna; Fratini, Sara; Cannicci, Stefano; Ciofi, Claudio; Iannucci, Alessio (2023). "Ecological factors and parity mode correlate with genome size variation in squamate reptiles". BMC Ecology and Evolution. 23 (69): 69. doi: 10.1186/s12862-023-02180-4 . PMC   10696768 . PMID   38053023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cordylus cataphracus". Animal Diversity Web.
  7. ↑ Van Wyk, Johannes; Mouton, P. le Fras; Shuttleworth, Cindy (2008-01-01). "Group size and termite consumption in the armadillo lizard, Cordylus cataphractus ". Amphibia-Reptilia. 29 (2): 171–176. doi: 10.1163/156853808784125045 . ISSN   1568-5381.
  8. ↑ Flemming, A.F.; Costandius, E.; Mouton, P.L.N. (2006). "The effect of intergroup distance on group fidelity in the group-living Lizard, Cordylus cataphractus". African Journal of Herpetology. 55 (1): 61–68. doi:10.1080/21564574.2006.96355 (inactive 2024-09-24).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 (link)
  9. ↑ Flemming, Alexander F.; Mouton, P. Le Fras N. (December 2002). "Reproduction in a Group-Living Lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Cordylidae), from South Africa". Journal of Herpetology. 36 (4): 691–696. doi:10.1670/0022-1511(2002)036[0691:RIAGLL]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0022-1511.

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