Cordylus vittifer

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Scincomorpha
Superfamilia: Scincoidea

Familia: Cordylidae
Subfamilia: Cordylinae
Genus: Cordylus
Species: Cordylus vittifer
Name

Cordylus vittifer (Reichenow, 1887)

Holotype: ZMB 10762 .

Type locality: “Transvaal, South Africa”.
Combinations

Zonurus vittifer Reichenow, 1887: 372 [original combination]
Cordylus vittifer — Broadley, 1971 [subsequent combination]

References
Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2022. Cordylus vittifer. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 24 October 2018.

Vernacular names
English: Transvaal Girdled Lizard

The Transvaal girdled lizard or Reichenow's spiny-tailed lizard (Cordylus vittifer) is a very flattened girdled lizard from northeastern South Africa, Swaziland, and southeastern Botswana. It prefers rock outcrops in open grassland and feeds on small arthropods, especially beetles.

Description

This species grows to about 95 mm long from snout to vent. Femoral pores are absent from females in some populations. Transvaal girdled lizards are distinguished from most other girdled lizards by elongation of the first row of dorsal scales directly behind the head. These scales are approximately twice the length from base to tip than the following dorsal scales on the neck. The dorsal coloration is variable—uniform straw brown to dark brown or with irregular dark spots and orange-yellow flanks. A pale stripe often runs down the middle of the back. A population in the northeastern Free State, South Africa has distinct dark lateral stripes and may represent a distinct species.
Relationships

The Transvaal girdled lizard is closely related to Machadoe's girdled lizard (Cordylus machadoi) from northwestern Namibia. Both species have an elongate first row of dorsal scales. Machadoe's girdled lizard is uniform yellow brown above and paler below. The head is dark brown with pale lips. The pale vertebral stripe found in the Transvaal Girdled Lizard is not present.
Pet trade
Falling prey to a sand snake

Specimens labeled as Transvaal girdled lizards are exported from Mozambique. Most individuals are not C. vittifer, but in fact Limpopo girdled lizards (Cordylus jonesii). The Limpopo girdled lizard can be quickly distinguished from C. vittifer by its rounded, not flattened, body. The Limpopo girdled lizard also lacks the elongate first row of dorsal scales.
References

Bates, M.F.; Mouton, P.L.F.N. (2018). "Cordylus vittifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T110160307A115675393. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T110160307A115675393.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.

Branch, B., 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 pp.
Broadley, D. G.; Branch, W. R. (2002). "A review of the small east African Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae), with the description of a new species". African Journal of Herpetology. 51 (1): 9–34. doi:10.1080/21564574.2002.9635459.