Cordylus Explained

The genus Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae) includes a wide variety of species of small to medium spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed lizards or girdled lizards. All are diurnal and ovoviviparous (live-bearing, without shelled eggs). Most species are rupicolous (rock-dwelling), while a few species are arboreal or live in burrows. They defend themselves with osteoderms (flat bony plates in the skin) and by quickly retreating into rock crevices or burrows. Many species live in groups, and males defend territories.

Cordylids are generally listed under CITES Appendix II. They are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but trade is controlled to prevent overexploitation. Some species of Cordylus have limited ranges and may be threatened with habitat destruction or over collecting for the pet trade.

Classification

Broadley (2006) recognized 47 species in the genus Cordylus, including eight species originally placed in the genus Pseudocordylus (P. fasciatus, P. langi, P. melanotus, P. microlepidotus, P. nebulosus, P. spinosus, P. subviridis, and P. transvaalensis) and Hemicordylus capensis. The greatest diversity of cordylids is in South Africa, with a few species found in Angola and eastern Africa as far north as Ethiopia. Other members of the Cordylidae are the genera Chamaesaura (a group of legless lizards from southern and eastern Africa) and Platysaurus. The sister group of Cordylidae is the plated lizards, family Gerrhosauridae.

In 2011, a study based on the molecular phylogeny of the family suggested several species traditionally included in Cordylus should be moved to other genera: Hemicordylus (for capensis and nebulosus), Karusasaurus (for jordani and polyzonus), Namazonurus (for campbelli, lawrenci, namaquensis, peersi and pustulatus), Ninurta (for coeruleopunctatus), Ouroborus (for cataphractus) and Smaug (for breyeri, giganteus, mossambicus, regius, vandami and warreni).^[1] This classification is supported by the Reptile Database where 21 species remain in Cordylus.^[2]

Genus Cordylus (sensu stricto):

• Angolan girdled lizard, Cordylus angolensis
• Maasai girdled lizard, Cordylus beraduccii
• Cape girdled lizard, Cordylus cordylus

• Rooiberg girdled lizard, Cordylus imkeae
• Limpopo girdled lizard, Cordylus jonesii

• Machadoe's girdled lizard, Cordylus machadoi
• Coastal spiny-tailed lizard, Cordylus macropholis
• Marungu girdled lizard, Cordylus marunguensis
• McLachlan's girdled lizard, Cordylus mclachlani
• Mecula girdled lizard, Cordylus meculae

• Dwarf girdled lizard, Cordylus minor
• Kaokoveld girdled lizard, Cordylus namakuiyus
• Black girdled lizard, Cordylus niger

• Nyika girdled lizard, Cordylus nyikae
• Oelofsen's girdled lizard, Cordylus oelofseni
• N’Dolondolo girdled lizard, Cordylus phonolithos
• Rhodesian girdled lizard, Cordylus rhodesianus
• Ethiopian girdled lizard, Cordylus rivae

• East African spiny-tailed lizard, Cordylus tropidosternum
• Ukinga girdled lizard, Cordylus ukingensis
• Transvaal girdled lizard, Cordylus vittifer

Nota bene

A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Cordylus.

Formerly assigned in Cordylus (sensu lato):

• species in the genus Hemicordylus
• species in the genus Karusasaurus
• species in the genus Namazonurus
• Blue-spotted girdled lizard, Ninurta coeruleopunctatus
• Armadillo girdled lizard, Ouroborus cataphractus
• species in the genus Pseudocordylus
• species in the genus Smaug

Further reading

• Branch, Bill (2004). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing. 399 pp. . (Genus Cordylus, pp. 185–186).
• Broadley DG (2006). Web site: CITES Standard Reference for the Species of Cordylus (Cordylidae, Reptilia), compiled by Donald G. Broadley, at the request of the Cites Nomenclature Committee, Update 2006 . Self-published. 10 pp. . October 19, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607065817/http://www.cites.org/common/com/NC/tax_ref/Cordylus_CoP14_update.pdf . June 7, 2011 .
• FitzSimons VF (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum Memoir.
• Laurenti JN (1768). Specimen medicum, exhibens synopsin reptilium emendatam cum experimentis circa venena et antidota reptilium austriacorum. Vienna: "Joan. Thom. Nob. de Trattnern". 214 pp. + Plates I–V. (Cordylus, new genus, p. 51). (in Latin).
• Reissig, Jens (2014). Girdled Lizards and their relatives: Natural History, Captive Care and Breeding. (Foreword by Aaron M. Bauer). Frankfurt am Main: Chimaira. 249 pp. .
• Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J (2002). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. San Diego: Academic Press. 543 pp.

External links

• Tallbo
• Live Birth
• Sungrazers
• Armadillo Lizards

Notes and References

1. Stanley. Edward L.. species:Edward L. Stanley . Bauer, Aaron M..

   fr:Aaron Matthew Bauer

   . Jackman. Todd R.. species:Todd R. Jackman . Branch, William R.. William Roy Branch. Mouton. P. Le Fras N.. species:P. Le Fras N. Mouton . Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 2011 . 58 . 1 . 53–70 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.024 . 20816817.
2. [species:Peter Uetz|Uetz, Peter]