Lizards > Plated lizards > Dwarf Plated Lizard

Plated lizards (Gerrhosauridae; pantserakkedisse)

Dwarf Plated Lizard / Perdewaentjie

Cordylosaurus subtessellatus 

Size A small, slender lizard with an adult snout-vent length of 45-55 mm. The tail is normally about twice the snout-vent length. Hatchlings measure 20-30 mm in total length.

Description The Dwarf Plated Lizard has a small head, but the head shields are relatively big. Like many lizards living in arid environments, the lower eyelid is transparent, helping the lizards to see with the eyes closed and thereby preventing drying out of the eyes. The dorsal scales are smooth to keeled and arranged in 15 longitudinal series. The ventral scales are arranged in 8 longitudinal series. Both sexes have 7-10 femoral pores on each side, but generation glands are absent. The head and body is dark brown to black above with a highly contrasting pale cream to light yellow lateral band extending from the snout to the tail tip, becoming fluorescent blue on the tail. The limbs are dark brown above. The underside of the body is off-white.

Biology This fascinating little lizard frequents rocky areas in karroid areas where it actively searches for its prey, in contrast to the sit-and-wait foraging strategy of many other lizards. It is a secretive lizard, its bright body colours probably preventing it from spending too much time in the open where it will be easily spotted by predators. During attacks, the brightly coloured tail probably serves to draw the attention of predators away from the body. The tail is easily shed and the lizard can escape unharmed. A new tail is then regenerated. Very little is known of the general biology of this species. Like other members of the family Gerrhosauridae, it is oviparous and two eggs are laid during early summer, hatching February-March the next year. It eats small insects.

Distribution Restricted to the arid western regions of southern Africa, from southern Angola to the Western Cape in South Africa, reaching inland in the south as far as Beaufort West and Rooiberg in the Little Karoo.

Distribution in GCBC Restricted to the northern and eastern parts of the Corridor.

Conservation status Not listed.

Threats None identified.

Current studies None.