Karusasaurus

Karusasaurus
Karusasaurus polyzonus in its natural habitat
A more detailed close-up of K. polyzonus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Scinciformata
Infraorder:	Scincomorpha
Family:	Cordylidae
Genus:	Karusasaurus Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011 [1]
Species
Two, see text

Karusasaurus, commonly known as Karusa lizards or Karusa girdled lizards, is a genus of lizards in the family Cordylidae. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Its species were previously considered to be included in the genus Cordylus , but more recent studies have shown that they are distinct enough to have their own genus. ^{[1] [5]}

Description and distribution

Karusasaurus contains two species, ^[6] which are widely distributed across the southern part of Africa, specifically, in the semi-arid areas of South Africa and Namibia. ^{[1] [7]} Like all girdled lizards, they are insectivores. They come in a great range of colors, including black, red, and turquoise. ^[4]

Species

There are two recognized species: ^[6]

• Karusasaurus jordani (Parker, 1936) – Jordan's girdled lizard, Namibian girdled lizard
• Karusasaurus polyzonus (A. Smith, 1838) – Karoo girdled lizard, southern Karusa lizard

Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Karusasaurus.

References

1. 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. Bibcode:2011MolPE..58...53S. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.024. PMID   20816817.
2. "Karusasaurus". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
3. "Karusasaurus ". iSpot. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
4. "Karusasaurus ". American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
5. Mouton, P.L.F.N. (2018). "Karusasaurus polyzonus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T110161123A115675844. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T110161123A115675844.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
6. Karusasaurus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 14 August 2025.
7. "Karusasaurus Stanley, Bauer, Jackman, Branch & Mouton, 2011". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 2 May 2018.

Further reading

• 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 Evolution58: 53–70 (Karusasaurus, new genus, p. 66).