While the group that was less in fidelity had a less neighboring distance. The group that was greater in fidelity had a greater neighboring distance. One hundred and six individuals from 27 groups were marked and recaptured regularly from May until September 2002. Females give birth once a year at most some take a year off between births.
The female may even feed her young, which is also unusual for a lizard. The female armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to one or two live young the species is one of the few lizards that does not lay eggs. This behavior, which resembles that of the mythical ouroboros and of the mammalian armadillo, gives it its taxonomic and English common names. In this shape, it is protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along its back and the spines on its tail. The armadillo girdled lizard possesses an uncommon antipredator adaptation, in which it rolls into a ball and takes its tail in its mouth when frightened. In its defensive position it looks like an Ourobouros Males are territorial, protecting a territory and mating with the females living there. It lives in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer. In the wild, its most common prey items are termites, especially Microhodotermes viator and Hodotermes mossambicus. In captivity, it is commonly fed crickets. The armadillo girdled lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but sometimes also may take plant material.
It inhabits rock outcrops and mountain slopes, preferably on sandstone substrate. cataphractus is endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome in the Northern and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa, where it occurs from the southern Richtersveld to the Piketberg Mountains and the southern Tankwa Karoo. It may grow to a maximum size of 8 in (20 cm) SVL. Its size can range from 7.5 to 9 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in) in snout- vent length (SVL). The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. The trade of this species in South Africa is restricted.The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration. The lizard is a Schedule II species of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The lizard gives birth to just one or two babies a year or every other year.
The spines on its tail and thick scales also help to inhibit predators from eating it. A livebearer, the Armadillo girdled lizard is so named due to its capability to take its tail in its mouth and roll itself into a ball to void predation. They can grow to about 4.1 inches in length (10.5 cm) and feeds on small invertebrates like termites, spiders and other insects. According to Iol.com, South African police were assisted by CapeNature Conservation Services, the Biodiversity Crime Unit, the Nuwerus, police with the Lutzville and Malmesbury of the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority’s organized crime unit.Īrmadillo girdled lizards, also known as the golden armadillo lizard, or the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, live in desert areas of the west coast of South Africa.