Giant plated lizard

The giant plated lizard is a lizard in the family Gerrhosauridae, which is found in dry to mesic habitats of southern Africa. They are wary and stay close to their rocky retreats.

Physical attributes

A large lizard with a flattened head and body with a total length of up to 69 cm or even 75 cm and a snout-vent length of 28 cm. The soles of the feet have black rubber-like balls, an adaptation to living on rock outcrops. It is called the plated lizard because of the platelike scales on the back. This lizard is very shy and hard to approach. When threatened, it will jam itself into rock crevices and inflate with air, making it impossible to extricate it.
It is omnivorous, consuming a fair amount of plant matter in addition to insects and even baby tortoises. It also tends to form loose colonies.