3/21/2023 0 Comments Armadillo lizardOuroborus cataphractus is ovoviviparous (eggs hatch inside the mother) and can give birth to one or two live young, which are smaller versions of the adults. The gestation period is around six to eight months. These lizards are polygynandrous, which means both males and females have multiple partners during mating season (September to October). Armadillo Girdled Lizard: Mating season and Life cycles Other prey includes beetles and millipedes, and they sometimes feed on scorpions and plant material, expressed. The lizards are active when food is abundant and are inactive when food is scarce during the dry summer months. Ouroborus cataphractus are carnivores, and primarily insectivores, with their main diet consisting of termites (Hodotermes mossambicus). For example, tongue-flicking is a warning sign for intruders to leave, Animalia.bio added. In order to communicate with each other, these lizards use tail wagging, head bobbing and tongue-flicking. This behavior, which resembles that of the mammalian armadillo, gives these lizards their English common names. In this shape, they are protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along their back and the spines on their tail. Armadillo girdled lizards possess an uncommon antipredator adaptation, in which they take their tail in their mouth and roll into a ball when frightened. Males are territorial, protecting territory and mating with the females living there. They live in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer. Armadillo Girdled Lizard: Habits and LifestyleĪrmadillo girdled lizards are diurnal and during the night they find their shelter in rock cracks and crevices. They can stay in this position for up to an hour, according to .za. This species has characteristic defence behaviour: when they are in danger and cannot reach a crevice or rock crack to hide in, they will roll into a ball and bite their tail, protecting their softer underside. The males and females are very similar and can reach an average total length of about 150-200 mm. There are several rows of sharp heavy spines covering the back of the tail, which is not easily discarded as in many other lizards. The underside is smooth and yellow with some dark brown markings. This heavily-armoured, stocky lizard varies in colour from greyish brown to light yellowish brown. ![]() Just as its animal namesake implies, these lizards have sharp armor-like features along their bodies and are known to curl up when they feel threatened just like armadillos.īut this impressive built-in armor is not the only fascinating characteristic of the armadillo lizard. ![]() With its thorny exterior and unique defenses, the armadillo lizard might be both one of nature’s cutest and one of its most eccentric reptiles.
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