Cordylus nyikae

An isolated population of the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard (Cordylus rhodesianus) from granite outcrops in montane grassland of northern Malawi was recently redescribed as Cordylus nyikae. Unlike the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard, the head shields are very rugose, the nostril is pierced in the lower posterior corner of the nasal scale, and the dorsals do not have a serrated posterior margin. The dorsal coloration is dark brown to gray-brown with lighter spots. The tail and upper lips are light brown. The belly is buff.

“Zimbabwe Girdled Lizards” are exported from Mozambique for the pet trade. Although they are often sold as C. rhodesianus, many individuals may actually be Cordylus nyikae. "Zimbabwe Girdled Lizards" remain skittish in captivity and require numerous hiding places constructed with stacked rocks.

References

Branch, B., 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 p.

Broadley, D. G., and 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.

Broadley, D. G., and Mouton, P. F. N., 2000. A new species of rupicolous Cordylus Laurenti from Malawi (Sauria: Cordylidae): African Journal of Herpetology, 49(2): 169-172.