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Armadillo girdled lizard — printable fact sheet
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Armadillo girdled lizard
Ouroborus cataphractus
The Armadillo girdled lizard is a small, spiny reptile native to the deserts and semi-arid regions of South Africa. Its most distinctive feature is its ability to curl into a ball, biting its own tail and using its armored scales as a defense against predators, much like an arma…
Did you know?
- The Armadillo girdled lizard can go several months without drinking water, deriving most of its moisture from its insect diet and the dew that forms on rocks.
- Unlike most lizards, the Armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It communicates with others in its group through head-bobbing and body postures. Its defensive curling behavior is unique among lizards and inspired its scientific genus name, 'Ouroborus,' referencing the ancient symbol of a serpent eating its own tail.
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