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.
Art von Cordylus Gronov. Cordylus cataphractus Boie ". Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae (Halle) 14 (1): 139-142. (Cordylus cataphractus...
November 2021. "Cordylus niger". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2010-12-15. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cordylus niger. Branch...
a sungazer (dead or alive) without a permit is illegal. Cordylus tropidosternum and Cordylus jonesii are occasionally marketed as “dwarf sungazers”. Wikimedia...
Cordyluscordylus, the Cape girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard indigenous to the southern Cape region of South Africa, where it inhabits crags,...
Cordylus meculae, the Mecula girdled lizard, is a third species from the Rhodesian girdled lizard complex, and was described from Mount Mecula in northern...
where it is often mislabeled as Cordylus vittifer.[citation needed] Alexander, G.J.; Tolley, K.A. (2021). "Cordylus jonesii". IUCN Red List of Threatened...
The western dwarf girdled lizard (Cordylus minor) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa. Bates...
Angolan girdled lizard (Cordylus angolensis), also known as the Angolan spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Cordylus. The species is endemic...
Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. The other two species are Cordylus nyikae and Cordylus meculae. They are found living under stones in rock outcrops...
Mozambique girdled lizard is also called the Gorongosa girdled lizard or Cordylus gorongosa (not a valid taxon name). Individuals are exported through Mozambique...
Cordylus macropholis, the large-scaled girdled lizard, is a small (55-77 mm) lizard endemic to the west coast of South Africa. They spend most of their...
P. (2021). "Cordylus beraduccii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T44647984A44886357. Retrieved 18 November 2021. "Cordylus beraduccii "...
girdled lizard can be distinguished from related species (Cordylus tropidosternum and Cordylus jonesii) by their white lips, keeled scales on the throat...
Oelofsen's girdled lizard (Cordylus oelofseni) is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in South Africa. Bates...
the genus Cordylus. Angolan girdled lizard (Cordylus angolensis), also known as the Angolan spiny-tailed lizard Black girdled lizard (Cordylus niger), restricted...
Broadley, D. G. (2006). "CITES Standard reference for the species of Cordylus (Cordylidae, Reptilia) prepared at the request of the CITES Nomenclature...
Cordylus namakuiyus, the Kaokoveld girdled lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. It is a small, spiny lizard found in Angola. Baptista...
Ninurta coeruleopunctatus (syn. Cordylus coeruleopunctatus), the blue-spotted girdled lizard or simply blue-spotted lizard, is a monotypic genus that is...
gracile features, with a phenotype described as intermediate between typical Cordylus and the larger, more robust Pseudocordylus. They have long limbs, and long...
ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Cordylus imkeae, p. 191 + Plate 104). Mouton PLFN, Van Wyk JH (1994). "Taxonomic status of geographical isolates in the Cordylus minor complex...