| Waterberg flat lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Male Waterberg flat lizard, Masebe, South Africa | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Cordylidae |
| Genus: | Platysaurus |
| Species: | P. minor |
| Binomial name | |
| Platysaurus minor FitzSimons, 1930 [2] | |
The Waterberg flat lizard (Platysaurus minor) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is endemic to South Africa. [2]
The Waterberg flat lizard ranges from Waterberg, South Africa, to the foothills of the Blouberg. The Waterberg flat lizard lives in rocky sandstone outcrops in a savannah habitat.
The Waterberg flat lizard eats mainly insects, but will sometimes eat plants. It lives in small family groups and breeds in summer, when two eggs are produced.
The Waterberg flat lizard is 60–70 mm long. The scales on the sides of its body are rounded, raised and larger than those on its back. Three longitudinal stripes are always entire on females, but sometimes divided in males.
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.
Platysaurus is a genus of lizards, commonly known as flat lizards for their flat backs, in the family Cordylidae.
The Soutpansberg flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.
Platysaurus broadleyi, also known commonly as the Augrabies flat lizard and Broadley's flat lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
The Cape flat lizard or Namaqua flat lizard is a lizard in the Cordylidae family found in Namibia and South Africa.
The dwarf flat lizard or lesser flat lizard is a lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is found in Southern Africa.
The emperor flat lizard or imperial flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.
The common flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. This lizard has 9 subspecies, all living in southern Africa.
The Lebombo flat lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae.
The spotted flat lizard is a lizard in the Cordylidae family, which is native to Mozambique.
Mitchell's flat lizard is a species of lizards in the family Cordylidae.
The orange-throated flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.
The ocellated flat lizard or Chimanimani flat lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is endemic to the Chimanimani Mountains of south eastern Zimbabwe and western Mozambique.
The Sekukhune flat lizard is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa. It has two subspecies.
The Pungwe flat lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.
Platysaurus torquatus, the striped flat lizard or collared flat lizard, is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family found in southeast Africa.
Warren's girdled lizard is a species of relatively large, flattened lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is native to Southern Africa.
Vivian Frederick Maynard FitzSimons, born in Pietermaritzburg, was a notable herpetologist in South Africa. Also, he contributed to the collection of spermatophyte samples for the National Herbarium which has become part of the South African National Biodiversity Institute at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden. In 1937, together with Anna Amelia Obermeyer, he collected some of the earliest plant specimens from the Eastern Highlands of Rhodesia.
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.
Platysaurus attenboroughi is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Namibia.
