Armadillo lizards are undoubtedly preyed on by a number of vertebrate predators, though their spiny defenses may discourage many potential enemies. As with many social animals, the large number of alert associates watching for danger can decrease the chance that a predator will approach unseen. When an armadillo lizard sees a predator, its behavior soon alerts all of them to the threat. This lizard species is comparatively sluggish and slow-moving, so living in a cooperative group gives them more time to escape and most of their time is spent close to crevices in which they can hide. They may be most vulnerable to birds of prey. Humans may be the biggest threat, as these lizards are often collected illegally for the pet trade. Armadillo lizards move relatively slowly, and are easily caught by hand if they are out in the open. Living in groups makes them unusually vulnerable to mass-collection.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Armadillo lizards are named for their appearance when in a defensive position. When threatened, they curl up, grip the tail in their jaws, and form a tight, armored ball, resembling an armadillo. Rows of spiny osteodermate scales covering the neck, body, tail, and limbs deter predators from seizing or swallowing these lizards. This position protects the soft underside of the lizard, which is its most vulnerable area. Males grow to be larger than females and have more prominent femoral pores. The average snout-vent length is between 75 and 90 mm, with a maximum snout-vent length of 105 mm. The tail is equal to or slightly shorter than the body length. The body color is a dirty yellowish brown to straw color. Dorsal color is usually consistent, sometimes having an orange to olive tint on the sides. Dark brown infusions on the back are not uncommon. The upper lip is dark brown. The head and tail are flattened, allowing it to squeeze into rock crevices. Armadillo lizards have the ability to drop their own tail (autotomy) when in danger, and can grow it back slowly. But, unlike many other lizards, in Cordylus cataphractus the tail is a necessary part of its unique defensive position. Because of this, the lizard will not part with the tail easily or quickly and tail autotomy is used only as a last resort. The jaws of Cordylus cataphractus are extremely powerful. In a fight, they can sever digits or small limbs. They sometimes roll their bodies as they bite, inflicting severe damage.
Range length: 75 to 105 mm.
Other Physical Features: heterothermic
Sexual Dimorphism: male larger
Cordylus cataphractus is a potentially long lived species, with life spans reaching 20 to 25 years in captivity. Average and maximum life span in the wild is apparently not known.
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 25 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 20 years.
Armadillo lizards inhabit karroid veld, a vegetation type that is normally found in the semi-desert Karoo region of South Africa. This habitat is characterized by sparse vegetation dominated by dwarf, perennial shrubs. These lizards inhabit large cracks in rocky outcrops.
Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; chaparral
Cordylus cataphractus (armadillo lizard or armadillo girdled lizard) is found along the west coast of South Africa, from the Orange River in the north (Little Namaqualand, Northern Cape Province) to the Piketberg Mountains in the south, and as far inland as Matjiesfontein in the western Karoo Basin.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
The diet of Cordylus cataphractus consists mainly of insects. After spring rains armadillo lizards feed extensively on their most important pry, southern harvester termites (Hodotermes mossambicus), which are very plentiful at that time of the year. They are very active when termites are abundant, but remain rather inactive when food is scarce during the dry summer months. Armadillo lizards also feed on beetles, millipedes, scorpions, and plant material. They can regain lost weight quickly after fasting during the dry season.
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: leaves; fruit
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Armadillo lizards perform several actions that help them communicate with one another, including head bobbing, tail wagging, or tongue flicking. These signals can aid in reproduction, or, in the case of tongue flicking, can warn unfamiliar lizards to leave.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; vibrations ; chemical
Cordylus cataphractus is listed as "vulnerable" in the Red Data Book of South Africa and is protected by law. This species is threatened by illegal collection for pet trade as well as habitat degradation, and has locally declined in numbers. Although armadillo lizards are still common in parts of their range, populations will not remain stable if current trends persist. Local community involvement will be needed to conserve this species.
In rural Namaqualand (a biodiversity hotspot located along the Atlantic coast of South Africa and Namibia), Rare Pride Campaign Manager Morne Farmer tries to spread awareness of the illegal pet trade affecting armadillo lizards. Targeting 24,000 community members, posters and fact sheets were distributed that highlighted threats to the animals that are affected by this illegal trade. Presentations about conservation were given, and a giant mascot of Cordylus cataphractus was placed in its natural habitat. The result of this awareness campaign was a 45% increase in local residents knowledge and identification of Cordylus cataphractus and 85% of farmers could identify 3 effects of overgrazing as opposed to 48% before the campaign. The results of this one campaign will have lasting impacts on the wild population of armadillo lizards. More of these conservation attempts will ensure the continued survival of this unique species.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: appendix ii
State of Michigan List: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable
As with all squamates (lizards and snakes) fertilization is internal. This species is ovoviviparous, producing one or two live young. Young are basically miniature versions of adults.
This species has no negative effects on human interests.
Armadillo lizards have an unusual appearance and are rather easy to catch. They are captured and sold in the commercial pet trade to other countries. Although collecting this species is illegal, enforcement is difficult and poachers usually smuggle them out of South Africa. While illegal and locally damaging to lizard populations, this collecting is a source of income for some people and a source of interest and amusement for people buying the lizards as pets, perhaps ignorant of the illegal nature of their purchase.
Positive Impacts: pet trade
Armadillo lizards eat termites and other insects and may play a modest role in controlling insect populations. They are probably not eaten in sufficient numbers by other animals to make a significant impact as a source of food.
Armadillo lizards are territorial; males defend an area and have multiple females in their territory with whom they mate. However, females cross territorial boundaries to mate with other males as well. Males do not seem to be defensive of their mates, but they were defensive of their territory. This species is unique in living in social groups with their young.
Mating System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Armadillo lizards mature at a snout-vent (body) length of about 95mm. Sperm production in males peaks in spring (September to October), which coincides with ovulation in females. Courtship and mating take place at this time. Females give birth to one, rarely two, young in late summer to early fall (March to April), which is the end of the dry season. These lizards are unique in occurring in extended family groups that share a particular rock crevice. These groups typically consist of an adult pair and subadult and small juvenile offspring, although it is suspected that not all lizards in a group are necessarily related. Smaller lizards may gain some protection by staying near older lizards, and adult armadillo lizards may even provide food to young armadillo lizards.
In a captive group of armadillo lizards in North America (with seasons reversed from South Africa), mating took place between the months of January and March. Males actively pursued females at this time. Females gave birth to a single large, live young sometime between the months of September and December. The newborns averaged about 63.5 mm in body length.
Breeding interval: Armadillo lizards breed once yearly in the spring.
Breeding season: Matings occur in September to October; births occur in March or April.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 2.
Average number of offspring: 1.
Range gestation period: 6 to 8 months.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; sexual ; ovoviviparous
Females typically give birth to one rather large young each year. In the harshly seasonal climate of karroo veld, food is difficult to find during the hot, dry season, thus females must be able to replenish fat reserves and provision the embryo's yolk during the short wet season in winter and spring. Cordylus cataphractus does seem to be able to replenish its energy reserves quickly. This species has a notably low resting metabolic rate and very low activity levels during the dry summer season, but individuals rapidly regain fat reserves in winter and spring. This ability may be related to its group-living habit and the extended care that it is able to give its offspring.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female); pre-independence (Provisioning: Male, Female, Protecting: Male, Female); post-independence association with parents
The armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus),[2] also commonly known as the armadillo lizard, the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, and the golden-armadillo lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to desert areas along the western coast of South Africa.[3] In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus Cordylus.[2][4]
The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration. The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. Its size can range from 7.5 to 9 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in) in snout-vent length (SVL). It may grow to a maximum size of 8 in (20 cm) SVL.[3]
O. 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 inhabits rock outcrops mountain slops, preferably on sandstone substrate.[1]
The armadillo girdled lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but sometimes also may take plant material.[3][5] In captivity, it is commonly fed crickets. In the wild, its most common prey items are termites, especially Microhodotermes viator[3] and Hodotermes mossambicus.[5] Individuals in larger social groups tend to eat more termites than those in smaller groups[6]
The armadillo girdled lizard is diurnal. It hides in rock cracks and crevices. It lives in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer.[3][5] Males are territorial, protecting a territory and mating with the females living there.[5]
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 this shape, it is protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along its back and the spines on its tail.[3] This behavior, which resembles that of the mythical ouroboros and of the mammalian armadillo, gives it its taxonomic and English common names.[3]
The female armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to one[3] or two[5] live young; the species is one of the few lizards that does not lay eggs. The female may even feed her young, which is also unusual for a lizard. Females give birth once a year at most; some take a year off between births.
One hundred and six individuals from 27 groups were marked and recaptured regularly from May until September 2002. The group that was greater in fidelity had a greater neighboring distance. While the group that was less in fidelity had a less neighboring distance. The neighboring distance correlates to the fidelity of the armadillo girdled lizard species.[7]
The species Ouroborus cataphractus is classified by the IUCN as near threatened. This is mostly due to a general cessation of collection for the pet trade, which was a significant drain on populations but is now illegal.[1][3][5] The armadillo girdled lizard is thought to be somewhat susceptible to fluctuations in its primary foodsource (termites), which in turn can be impacted by climatic events such as changes in rainfall patterns, as well as to habitat changes through invasive alien plant species and poor fire management.[1]
The armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus), also commonly known as the armadillo lizard, the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, and the golden-armadillo lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to desert areas along the western coast of South Africa. In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus Cordylus.
