McLachlan's girdled lizard
| McLachlan's girdled lizard | |
|---|---|
| Cordylus mclachlani | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Cordylidae |
| Genus: | Cordylus |
| Species: | C. mclachlani
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cordylus mclachlani Mouton, 1986
| |
McLachlan's girdled lizard (Cordylus mclachlani), also known commonly as McLachlan's spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to South Africa.
Etymology
The specific name, mclachlani, is in honor of South African herpetologist Geoffrey Roy McLachlan.[2]
Description
Adults of Cordylus mclachlani usually have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 5–7 cm (2.0–2.8 in). The body is very flattened. Dorsally, it is olive brown, with some dark brown and yellow spots. Ventrally, it is cream-colored.[3]
Geographic distribution
Cordylus mclachlani is found in the South African provinces of Northern Cape and Western Cape.[1]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Cordylus mclachlani is rocky areas of shrubland.[1]
Behavior
Cordylus mclachlani is terrestrial and rupicolous (rock-dwelling), sheltering in narrow crevices.[1][3]
Reproduction
Cordylus mclachlani is ovoviviparous.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Bates, M.F.; Tolley, K.A.; Mouton, P.L.F.N. (2018). "Cordylus mclachlani ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T5340A115650518. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T5340A115650518.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ a b Species Cordylus mclachlani at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. 399 pp. (Cordylus mclachlani, p. 190 + Plate 67).
Further reading
- Adolphs, Klaus (2006). Bibliotheca Cordyliformium: Neues Quellenverzeichnis der Gürtelschweife und Schildechsen (Reptilia, Cordylidae und Gerrhosauridae). Sankt Augustin, Germany: Squamata Verlag für Herpetologie. ISBN 978-3980508612. 303 pp. (in German).
- Mouton, P.le F.N. (1986). "Description of a new species of Cordylus Laurenti (Reptilia: Cordylidae) from the south-western Cape, South Africa". South African Journal of Zoology. 21 (4): 319–324. (Cordylus mclachlani, new species). (in English, with an abstract in Afrikaans).
- Mouton, P.le F.N.; Visser, J.D.; Van Wyk, J.H. (1992). "Morphological variation in the girdled lizard Cordylus mclachlani Mouton 1986". South African J. Zool. 27 (1): 35–37.
- Reissig, J. (2014). Girdled Lizards and their relatives: Natural History, Captive Care and Breeding. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. ISBN 978-3899734379. 249 pp.
- Stanley, E.L.; Bauer, A.M.; Jackman, T.R.; Branch, W.R.; Mouton, P.le F.N. (2011). "Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 58 (1): 53–70.