Ouroborus cataphractus

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: Ouroborus
Species: Ouroborus cataphractus
Name

Ouroborus cataphractus (Boie, 1828)

Holotype: RMNH ?.

Type locality: “vielleicht ein anderer Theil dieses Continents” (Africa); unknown.
Combinations

Cordylus cataphractus Boie, 1828: 140 [original combination]
Ouroborus cataphractus — Stanley et al., 2011: 65 [name combination]

Synonyms

Cordylus nebulosus Smith, 1838: 31

Type locality: South Africa.
References
Primary references

Boie, F. 1828. Über eine noch nicht beschriebene Art von Cordylus Gronov. Cordylus cataphractus Boie. Nova acta physico-medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosum 14(1): 139–142. BHL Reference page.
Smith, A. 1838. Contributions to South African Zoology. Magazine of Natural History 2(1): 30–33. BHL Reference page.
Stanley, E.L., Bauer, A.M., Jackman, T.R., Branch, W.R. & Mouton, P. Le F.N. 2011. Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58(1): 53–70. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2010.08.024 Reference page.

Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2022. Ouroborus cataphractus. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 9 September 2017.

Vernacular names
English: Armadillo Girdled Lizard

The armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus),[2] also commonly known as the armadillo lizard, the Golden-armadillo lizard, or the armadillo spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Cordylidae. The species is endemic to desert areas along the western coast of South Africa.[3] In 2011, it was moved to its own genus based on molecular phylogeny, but formerly it was included in the genus Cordylus.[2][4]

Description

The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration. The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. Its size can range from 7.5 to 9 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in) in snout-vent length (SVL). It may grow to a maximum size of 8 in (20 cm) SVL.[3]
Distribution and habitat

O. cataphractus is endemic to the Succulent Karoo biome in the Northern and the Western Cape provinces of South Africa, where it occurs from the southern Richtersveld to the Piketberg Mountains and the southern Tankwa Karoo. It inhabits rock outcrops and mountain slopes, preferably on sandstone substrate.[1]
Ecology
Diet

The armadillo girdled lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but sometimes also may take plant material.[3][5] In captivity, it is commonly fed crickets. In the wild, its most common prey items are termites, especially Microhodotermes viator[3] and Hodotermes mossambicus.[5]

Behavior

The armadillo girdled lizard is diurnal. It hides in rock cracks and crevices. It lives in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer.[3][5] Males are territorial, protecting a territory and mating with the females living there.[5]
In its defensive position it looks like an Ourobouros

The armadillo girdled lizard possesses an uncommon antipredator adaptation, in which it rolls into a ball and takes its tail in its mouth when frightened. In this shape, it is protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along its back and the spines on its tail.[3] This behavior, which resembles that of the mythical ouroboros and of the mammalian armadillo, gives it its taxonomic and English common names.[3]
Reproduction

The female armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to one[3] or two[5] live young; the species is one of the few lizards that does not lay eggs. The female may even feed her young, which is also unusual for a lizard. Females give birth once a year at most; some take a year off between births.

One hundred and six individuals from 27 groups were marked and recaptured regularly from May until September 2002. The group that was greater in fidelity had a greater neighboring distance. While the group that was less in fidelity had a less neighboring distance. The neighboring distance correlates to the fidelity of the Armadillo species.[6]
Conservation

The species Ouroborus cataphractus was classified by the IUCN as Vulnerable until 1996, but has since been downgraded to Least Concern. This is mostly due to a general cessation of collection for the pet trade, which was a significant drain on populations but is now illegal.[1][3][5] The armadillo girdled lizard is thought to be somewhat susceptible to fluctuations in its primary foodsource (termites), which in turn can be impacted by climatic events such as changes in rainfall patterns, as well as to habitat changes through invasive alien plant species and poor fire management.[1]
References

Bates, M.F.; Tolley, K.A.; Mouton, P.L.F.N. (2018). "Ouroborus cataphractus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T5333A115650102. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T5333A115650102.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
"Ouroborus cataphractus ". The lizard Database. www.reptile-database.org.
"Cordylus cataphractus ". Arkive Archived 2010-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
Stanley, Edward L.; Bauer, Aaron M.; Jackman, Todd R.; Branch, William R.; Mouton, P. Le Fras N. (2011). "Between a rock and a hard polytomy: Rapid radiation in the rupicolous girdled lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 58 (1): 53–70. (Ouroborus cataphractus, new combination).
"Cordylus cataphracus ". Animal Diversity Web

[Taylor & Francis LTD, Flemming, A. F., Costandius, E., & Mouton, F. N. P.L. (2006, June). The effect of intergroup distance on group fidelity in the group-living Lizard, Cordylus cataphractus. SCI, 55(1), 61-68. 10.1080/21564574.2006.96355]