Another apt Afrikaans name is ouvolk (direct translation: ‘old folk’), which alludes to their ancient, crocodilian appearance. It is an agile lizard that is active during sunny weather and it often gazes in the direction of the sun, which is why they are called sonkykers (sun gazers) in Afrikaans. The black girdled lizard is locally abundant in rocky areas from sea level up to mountain tops, including on Table Mountain. Most girdled lizards are crevice species, but there are a few exceptions. The black girdled lizard is distinguished by melanistic (black) colouration and large, girdled, well-armed dorsal scales with pierced nostrils in the nasal shields.
Cordylus niger is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, Western Cape, with an outlier population near Saldanha. The black girdled lizard belongs to the genus Cordylus, which has 21 known species and are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The specific epithet ‘niger’ refers to the jet black colour of this lizard’s body. The genus name Cordylus Laurenti was established in 1768 and refers to the sideways swinging tail (when removed from their shelter), which is used like a club or cudgel kordule (Greek) = club. ( Cordylus cataphractus, pp. 186–187 + Plate 68).Common name: Black girdled lizard, swart-skurwejantjie (Afrikaans) Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. Third Revised edition, Second impression. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Nova Acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae (Halle) 14 (1): 139-142. " Über eine noch nichte beschriebene Art von Cordylus Gronov.
The neighboring distance correlates to the fidelity of the Armadillo species. While the group that was less in fidelity had a less neighboring distance. The group that was greater in fidelity had a greater neighboring distance. One hundred and six individuals from 27 groups were marked and recaptured regularly from May until September 2002. Females give birth once a year at most some take a year off between births. The female may even feed her young, which is also unusual for a lizard.
The female armadillo girdled lizard gives birth to one or two live young the species is one of the few lizards that does not lay eggs. This behavior, which resembles that of the mythical ouroboros and of the mammalian armadillo, gives it its taxonomic and English common names. In this shape, it is protected from predators by the thick, squarish scales along its back and the spines on its tail. 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 its defensive position it looks like an Ourobouros Males are territorial, protecting a territory and mating with the females living there. It lives in social groups of up to 30 to 60 individuals of all ages, but usually fewer. In the wild, its most common prey items are termites, especially Microhodotermes viator and Hodotermes mossambicus. In captivity, it is commonly fed crickets. The armadillo girdled lizard feeds mainly on small invertebrates, such as insects and spiders, but sometimes also may take plant material. It inhabits rock outcrops and mountain slopes, preferably on sandstone substrate. 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 may grow to a maximum size of 8 in (20 cm) SVL. Its size can range from 7.5 to 9 cm (3.0 to 3.5 in) in snout- vent length (SVL). The underbelly is yellow with a blackish pattern, especially under the chin. The armadillo girdled lizard can be a light brown to dark brown in coloration.