Black girdled lizard
A species of Girdle-tailed Scientific name : Cordylus niger Genus : Girdle-tailed
Black girdled lizard, A species of Girdle-tailed
Scientific name: Cordylus niger
Genus: Girdle-tailed
Content
Description General Info
Photo By vynbos , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Cordylus niger, the black girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard restricted to Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula and a second, isolated population near Langebaan.
General Info
Lifespan
5-8 years
Diet
Black girdled lizard is primarily insectivorous, consuming a variety of arachnids and small insects. Specific prey include termites, beetles, and spiders, usually foraged among crevices and rock formations.
Appearance
Black girdled lizard is a medium-sized lizard with a robust, flattened body and heavily armored, rough skin. Its coloration is primarily black, matching its name. It has no distinguishing features in terms of horns, wings or tails. There are no significant variations in appearance due to age, gender, or subspecies. It features a sharp-edged tail which is used as a defensive weapon.
Behavior
Black girdled lizard is a solitary species exhibiting pronounced territorial behaviors, with males defending their areas fiercely. This species spends a large portion of the day sunbathing on rocky outcrops, thermoregulating to sustain its high metabolic rate, with foraging occurring in the late afternoon. Black girdled lizard demonstrates a unique rolling mechanism as a defensive strategy against predators.
Population
Stable
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Girdled lizards Genus
Girdle-tailed Species
Black girdled lizard 
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