Cordylus

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Cordylus
File:Tropical Girdled Lizard P9240103.JPG
Tropical girdled lizard (Cordylus tropidosternum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Reptilia
Order:
Squamata
Suborder:
Sauria
Infraorder:
Scincomorpha
Family:
Cordylidae
Genus:
Cordylus

Laurenti, 1768

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The genus Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae) includes a wide variety of small- to medium-sized spiny lizards from Africa, collectively called girdle-tailed 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. subvirdis, 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 only 21 species remain in Cordylus.[2]

Genus Cordylus (as traditionally defined, sensu lato)

File:Cordylus giganteus.jpg
Cordylus giganteus
File:Cordylus warreni00.jpg
Cordylus warreni
File:Armadillo girdle-tailed lizard.jpg
Pair of Cordylus cataphractus

References

  • 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. ISBN 0-88359-042-5. (Genus Cordylus, pp. 185-186).
  • FitzSimons VF. (1943). The Lizards of South Africa. Pretoria: Transvaal Museum Memoir.
  • Spawls S, Howell K, Drewes R, Ashe J. (2002). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of East Africa. San Diego: Academic Press. 543 pp.
  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Uetz, Peter et al. (2014). The Reptile Database. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.cites.org/common/com/NC/tax_ref/Cordylus_CoP14_update.pdf

Further reading

  • 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. (Genus Cordylus, p. 51).

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Cordylus&oldid=351032"