Platysaurus
Encyclopedia
Platysaurus is a genus
of lizard
s in the Cordylidae
family, known as flat lizards for their flat backs. All species live in isolated populations in southern Africa
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s in the Cordylidae
Cordylidae
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...
family, known as flat lizards for their flat backs. All species live in isolated populations in southern Africa
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...
.
Description
Females and juveniles often have black or brown backs with white stripes, while males are much more colored. Males are somewhat larger than females.Habits
- Platysaurus guttatus Dwarf Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus imperator Emperor Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus intermedius Common Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus lebomboensisLebombo Flat LizardThe Lebombo Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.-Geography:The Lebombo Flat Lizard lives in southern Africa, including Transvaal, Swaziland, and KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa...
Lebombo Flat Lizard - Platysaurus maculatusSpotted Flat LizardThe Spotted Flat Lizard is a lizard in the Cordylidae family. It lives in Mozambique. The Spotted Flat Lizard has two subspecies, P. m. maculatus and P. m. linecauda. Both were discovered in 1965.-External links:*...
Spotted Flat Lizard - Platysaurus minor Waterberg Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus mitchelliMitchell's Flat LizardThe Mitchell's Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. It lives in Malawi.-External links:*...
Mitchell's Flat Lizard - Platysaurus monotropis Orange-throated Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus ocellatusOcellated Flat LizardThe Ocellated Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.-Description:Ocellated Flat Lizards are similar to the Cape Flat Lizard. Females and juveniles are brown with white spots. Males are also brown, with a black head. The tail is orange-yellow underneath.-Geography:An Ocellated...
Ocellated Flat Lizard - Platysaurus orientalisSekukhune Flat LizardThe Sekukhune Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family. It has two subspecies.-Description:Females and juveniles have a black back with white stripes, as well as a white belly...
Sekukune Flat Lizard - Platysaurus pungweensisPungwe Flat LizardThe Pungwe Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.-Description:Pungwe Flat Lizards females and juveniles are black with stripes on their back. Males vary by subspecies....
Pungewe Flat Lizard - Platysaurus relictus Soutpansberg Flat Lizard
- Platysaurus torquatusStriped Flat LizardThe Striped Flat Lizard is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family.-Description:The Spotted Flat Lizard is the only lizard in its genus which has adult males with white stripes on its back. Males, females, and juveniles all have black-brown backs with these thick white stripes...
Striped Flat Lizard