| Ethiopian girdled lizard | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Cordylidae |
| Genus: | Cordylus |
| Species: | C. rivae |
| Binomial name | |
| Cordylus rivae (Boulenger, 1896) | |
Cordylus rivae, the Ethiopian girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Ethiopia. [2]
The genus Cordylus includes a wide variety of small- to medium-sized spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed 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 Golden-armadillo lizard, or the armadillo spiny-tailed 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.
Lawrence's girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
The McLachlan's girdled lizard or McLachlan's spiny-tailed lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family endemic to South 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.
The Transvaal girdled lizard or Reichenow's spiny-tailed lizard is a very flattened girdled lizard from northeastern South Africa, Swaziland, and southeastern Botswana. It prefers rock outcrops in open grassland and feeds on small arthropods, especially beetles.
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.
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.
Warren's girdled lizard is a species of relatively large, flattened lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.
The Angolan girdled lizard, also known as the Angolan spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Cordylus. The species is endemic to Angola, as its names testify, and is ovoviviparous.
The Dwarf Karoo girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa.
Cordylus niger, the black girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard restricted to Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula and a second, isolated population near Langebaan.
Cordylus cordylus, the Cape girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard indigenous to the southern Cape region of South Africa, where it inhabits crags, rocky outcrops and mountain summits. They evade predators by wedging themselves firmly in rock cracks.
Cloete's girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa.
The Rooiberg girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in 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.
Cordylus namakuiyus, the Kaokoveld girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Angola.
Oelofsen’s girdled lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa.
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.
Karusasaurus jordani, Jordan's girdled lizard or the Namibian girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Namibia.
 | This lizard article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
