Common crag lizard
A species of Crag lizards, Also known as Drakensberg crag lizard Scientific name : Pseudocordylus melanotus Genus : Crag lizards
Common crag lizard, A species of Crag lizards
Also known as:
Drakensberg crag lizard
Scientific name: Pseudocordylus melanotus
Genus: Crag lizards
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Bernard DUPONT , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Pseudocordylus melanotus or Common Crag Lizard is an ovoviviparous lizard, tolerant of temperatures no lower than -5 °C and consequently occurring on rocky outcrops, hills and mountains throughout Southern Africa - various subspecies are found in the inland mountains of the Eastern Cape (Amatole-Great Winterberg) and Cape Fold Mountains, the Natal and Transvaal Drakensberg and foothills, Lesotho and Swaziland with an isolated population at Suikerbosrand, and also at the Magal
General Info
Lifespan
5-8 years
Diet
Common crag lizard substantially subsists on a diet of small arthropods, primarily beetles and spiders. Gravid females also notably consume snails, boosting their calcium intake during egg formation.
Appearance
Common crag lizard is a medium-sized lizard with a robust body and rough, granulated skin. Its main coloration is dark brown to blackish, often with lighter dorsal spots. Notable features include a row of spiny scales along its back and a robust, flattened tail. No significant differences are observed due to age, gender, or subspecies.
Behavior
Common crag lizard is an arboreal species primarily noticeable for its bimodal activity pattern, being most active during dawn and dusk. This reptile is territorial, often engaging in aggressive encounters with same-sex individuals. Their primary survival method includes camouflage within their rocky habitat, with the ability to change skin color in response to environmental temperatures, providing thermo-regulation and concealment from predators.
Population
Stable
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Reptiles Order
Lizards and snakes Family
Girdled lizards Genus
Crag lizards Species
Common crag lizard 
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