Cordylidae
Encyclopedia
Cordylidae is a family of small to medium sized lizards that occur in southern and eastern Africa
. They are commonly known as "Girdled", Spinytail lizards or Girdle-tail lizards.
Girdled lizards are diurnal and insectivorous. They are terrestrial, mostly inhabiting crevices in rocky terrain, although at least one species digs burrows and another lives under exfoliating bark on trees. They have flattened heads and bodies, and are distinguished by a heavy armour of osteoderm
s and large, rectangular, scales, arranged in regular rows around the body and tail. Many species have rings of spines on the tail, that aid in wedging the animal into sheltering crevices, and also in dissuading predators.
Most species have four limbs, but those in the genus Chamaesaura
are almost entirely limbless, with only tiny spikes in place of the hind limbs. The family includes both egg-laying and ovoviviparous species.
Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae, occurring in Africa and Madagascar. These two scientific families of lizards, known as Cordyliformes, are sometimes combined into a larger concept of Cordylidae.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. They are commonly known as "Girdled", Spinytail lizards or Girdle-tail lizards.
Girdled lizards are diurnal and insectivorous. They are terrestrial, mostly inhabiting crevices in rocky terrain, although at least one species digs burrows and another lives under exfoliating bark on trees. They have flattened heads and bodies, and are distinguished by a heavy armour of osteoderm
Osteoderm
Osteoderms are bony deposits forming scales, plates or other structures in the dermal layers of the skin. Osteoderms are found in many groups of extant and extinct reptiles, including lizards, various groups of dinosaurs , crocodilians, phytosaurs, aetosaurs, placodonts, and hupehsuchians...
s and large, rectangular, scales, arranged in regular rows around the body and tail. Many species have rings of spines on the tail, that aid in wedging the animal into sheltering crevices, and also in dissuading predators.
Most species have four limbs, but those in the genus Chamaesaura
Chamaesaura
The Chamaesaura, also known as Grass Lizards, are a genus of legless lizards from southern and eastern Africa. The limbs are reduced to small spikes. The elongate shape and lack of limbs allows them to "swim" through grass...
are almost entirely limbless, with only tiny spikes in place of the hind limbs. The family includes both egg-laying and ovoviviparous species.
Cordylidae is closely related to the family Gerrhosauridae, occurring in Africa and Madagascar. These two scientific families of lizards, known as Cordyliformes, are sometimes combined into a larger concept of Cordylidae.
Genera
FAMILY CORDYLIDAE- Subfamily Chamaesaurinae
- Genus ChamaesauraChamaesauraThe Chamaesaura, also known as Grass Lizards, are a genus of legless lizards from southern and eastern Africa. The limbs are reduced to small spikes. The elongate shape and lack of limbs allows them to "swim" through grass...
- Grass lizards (3 species)
- Genus Chamaesaura
- Subfamily Cordylinae
- Genus CordylusCordylusThe 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 while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows...
- (47 species) - Genus PlatysaurusPlatysaurusPlatysaurus is a genus of lizards in the Cordylidae family, known as flat lizards for their flat backs. All species live in isolated populations in southern Africa.-Description:...
- Flat lizards (15 species) - Genus PseudocordylusPseudocordylusThe Crag Lizards are small to large girdled lizards from South Africa. Six species of Pseudocordylus are known; they are distinguished from other Cordylus by the presence of granular scales on the back instead of osteoderms...
- (6 species)
- Genus Cordylus