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Cordylus
Tropical Girdled Lizard -Cordylus tropidosternum
Tropical Girdled Lizard -Cordylus tropidosternum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Cordylidae
Genus: Cordylus

The genus Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae) includes a wide variety of small to medium sized spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed or girdled lizards. common namedwarf sungazer The East African Spiny-tailed Lizard ( Cordylus tropidosternum) also known as the Tropical Girdled Lizard, is an arboreal or rupicolous Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Reptiles, or members of the class Reptilia are air-breathing Cold-blooded Vertebrates that have skin covered in scales as opposed to hair or feathers Squamata (scaled reptiles is the largest recent order of Reptiles including Lizards and Snakes Members of the order are distinguished by Cordylidae is a family of mid-sized lizards that inhabit arid and semi-arid regions in Madagascar and eastern Africa. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous (live-bearing, without eggs). Most species are rupicolous (rock-dwelling) while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows. They defend themselves with osteoderms (flat bony plates in the skin) and by quickly retreating into rock crevices or burrows. Many species live in groups and males defend territories.

Cordylids are generally listed under CITES Appendix II. They are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade is controlled to prevent over-exploitation. Some species of Cordylus have limited ranges and may be threatened with habitat destruction or over collecting for the pet trade.


Classification of the genus Cordylus

Broadley (2006) recognized 47 species in the genus Cordylus, including 8 species originally placed in the genus Pseudocordylus ( P. fasciatus, P. langi, P. melanotus, P. microlepidotus, P. nebulosus, P. spinosus, P. subvirdis, and P. transvaalensis) and Hemicordylus capensis. The greatest diversity of cordylids is in South Africa, with a few species found in Angola and eastern Africa as far north as Ethiopia. Other members of the Cordylidae are Chamaesaura (a group of legless lizards from southern and eastern Africa) and Platysaurus. The Chamaesaura, also known as Grass Lizards, are a Genus of legless Lizards from southern and eastern Africa. Platysaurus is a Genus of Lizards in the Cordylidae family known as flat lizards for their flat backs The sister group of Cordylidae is the plated lizards, Gerrhosauridae. The Gerrhosauridae is a family of lizards native to Africa and Madagascar


Genus Cordylus

Cordylus giganteus
Cordylus giganteus


Basic care information

The smaller species can be kept in a 10 gallon aquarium, but larger species and groups need a 40 gallon aquarium or larger. The Angolan Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus angolensis) also known as the Angolan Spiny-tailed Lizard, is a lizard in the Genus Cordylus. The Dwarf Karoo Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus aridus) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The Armadillo Lizard ( Cordylus cataphractus) is a Spiny-tailed lizard endemic to Desert areas of southern Africa. UserPolbot. --> Cordylus giganteus, the Sungazer, Giant Spiny-tailed Lizard, Giant Zonure Limpopo Girdled Lizards ( Cordylus jonesii) live along South Africa ’s border with Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. UserPolbot. -->The Lawrence's Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus lawrenci) is a species of Lizard in the Machadoe’s girdled lizard ( Cordylus machadoi) is a flattened girdled lizard from northwestern Namibia. UserPolbot. -->The Mclachlan's Girdled Lizard or Mclachlan's Spiny-tailed Lizard ( Cordylus mclachlani A third species from the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard complex the Mecula Girdled Lizard Cordylus meculae, was described from Serra Mecula in northern Mozambique The Mozambique Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus mossambicus) is a large flattened girdled lizard found in the Gorongosa Mountains in Mozambique and low elevations An isolated population of the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus rhodesianus) from granite outcrops in Montane Grassland of northern Malawi was The Rhodesian girdled lizard ( Cordylus rhodesianus) is one of three species of very flattened girdled lizards from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique common namedwarf sungazer The East African Spiny-tailed Lizard ( Cordylus tropidosternum) also known as the Tropical Girdled Lizard, is an arboreal or rupicolous The Ukinga Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus ukingensis) is a poorly known species of girdled lizard from central Tanzania. The Transvaal girdled lizard, Cordylus vittifer, is a very flattened girdled lizard from northeastern South Africa, Swaziland, and southeastern Botswana Warren’s Girdled Lizard ( Cordylus warreni) is a relatively large flattened lizard from the Lebombo Mountains in northeastern South Africa and eastern Given enough space, similar-sized species can be kept together, although they should be observed for interspecies aggression. Two males of the same species should not be introduced together. Occasionally two females of the same species will not get along and must be separated.

The substrate can be sand, coconut fiber, or newspaper. There should be plenty of hiding places, at least one per lizard. Rocks can be stacked into miniature cliffs or rock piles. Make sure that stacked rocks cannot fall onto captives. Provide a water bowl that is large enough for the lizard to soak when shedding its skin. A heat lamp that provides UVA and UVB for basking should be placed at one side of the enclosure. The cool end of the cage should be around 70-75o, and the area around the heat lamp should reach 90-100o. At night the cage can drop to 60-70o. Some species are found in mountainous areas where the temperature can drop below freezing.

All species are insectivorous, however some will take small quantities of fruits or vegetables, and large specimens will eat the occasional pinky or fuzzy mouse. Variety is important, try to offer different kinds of insects. Insects should not be collected from areas that have been treated for herbicides or pesticides.

Cordylus rarely reproduce in captivity, produce a small number of young (1-6), and they are slow growing, taking 2 or more years to mature. Some species, including the Sungazer (Cordylus giganteus) and the Armadillo lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) reproduce every other year or produce one baby at a time. UserPolbot. --> Cordylus giganteus, the Sungazer, Giant Spiny-tailed Lizard, Giant Zonure The Armadillo Lizard ( Cordylus cataphractus) is a Spiny-tailed lizard endemic to Desert areas of southern Africa. Cordylus can live over 25 years in captivity.

The Tropical Girdled Lizard (Cordylus tropidosternum, a. common namedwarf sungazer The East African Spiny-tailed Lizard ( Cordylus tropidosternum) also known as the Tropical Girdled Lizard, is an arboreal or rupicolous k. a the Armadillo Lizard) is the most commonly available species in the pet trade. Individuals are skittish at first but most do not bite when initially captured. They will eventually become tame and will take food by hand. Other species of Cordylus may or may not become docile. Smaller species will remain skittish and large Cordylids can produce a painful, but harmless bite.

More information about caring for C. tropidosternum and other Cordylus can be found at:

www. tallbo. com [1]

Live Birth [2]

Sungrazers [3]

Armadillo Lizards [4]

Cordylus warreni
Cordylus warreni


References

Branch, B. , 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 p.

Broadley, D. G. , 2006: [5]

Fitzsimons, V. F. , 1943. The Lizards of South Africa: Transvaal Museum Memoir, Pretoria.

Spawls, S. , Howell, K, Drewes, R, and Ashe, J, 2002. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa: Academic Press, San Diego, 543 p.

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