Order Squamata
Infraorder Scincomorpha
Appearance: Scales
arranged in transverse rows and are underlain by osteoderms
but no spines to the extent seen in cordylids. Prominent
lateral fold along the body. Some genera with reduced limbs
(Tetradactylus). Our photo shows
Gerrhosaurus nigrolineatus which is widely
distributed in southern Africa. Size: From about 5-7
cm snout-vent length (Cordylosaurus,
Tetradactylus) to about 30 cm (Gerrhosaurus
validus, 70 cm total length). Distribution:
Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar.
Habitat: Shifting-sand environments (especially in genera with reduced limbs), grassland, rain forests or more open formations (Malagasy species of Tracheloptychus and Zonosaurus). Many species dig burrows in the ground. Zonosaurus maximus is semiaquatic and takes to water to escape disturbance, hiding under bottom debris for long periods.
Food: Insectivore, some larger species eat plants too.
Behaviour: both terrestrial (Tetradactylus) and fossorial species (Gerrhosaurus). Most Gerrhosaurus live on rocks.
Reproduction: oviparous.
Relationships: The gerrhosaurids are often included in the Cordylids as subfamily Gerrhosaurinae (Lang 1991). Angolosaurus has been synonymized with Gerrhosaurus by Trip et al. (2003).
Updated species list and biological data compiled by Klaus Adolphs, St. Augustin (Germany)
Subfamilia Gerrhosaurinae
Subfamilia Zonosaurinae
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Phylogenetic relationships among several genera of Gerrhosaurids according to Odierna et al. (2002).
References:
Adolphs,K. (1996)
Bibliographie der Gürtelechsen und Schildechsen (Reptilia:
Sauria: Cordylidae & Gerrhosauridae)
Squamata Verlag, St. Augustin, 255 pp.
ISBN 3-9805086-0-9
Lamb, T.; Meeker, A.M.; Bauer, A.M. & Branch, W.R. (2003)
On the systematic status of the desert plated lizard (Angolosaurus
skoogi): phylogenetic inference from DNA sequence analysis of the
African Gerrhosauridae.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 78 (2): 253
Lang,M. (1991)
Generic relationships within Cordyliformes (Reptilia:Squamata)
Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique
61: 121-188
Loveridge, A. (1942)
Revision of the African Lizards of the Family Gerrhosauridae.
Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoology, Cambridge/USA, 89 (11):
483-543
Odierna, G. et al. (2002)
A Phylogenetic Analysis of Cordyliformes (Reptilia: Squamata):
Comparison of Molecular and Karyological Data.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 23 (1): 37&endash;42
Welch, K. R. G. (1994
Lizards of the World, A Checklist, 5. Agamidae, Chamaeleonidae,
Cordylidae and Gerrhosauridae.
Somerset (KCM Books), 97 S.
Wermuth,H. (1966)
Liste der rezenten Amphibien und Reptilien: Cordylidae
Das Tierreich Lieferung 87, I-X, 1-30
Walter de Gruyter, (Berlin)
Wyk, J. H. van (1997)
Family Gerrhosauridae. - In: J. H. van Wyk (ed.): Proceedings
of the Fitzsimons Commemorative Symposium, South African Lizards: 50
years of Progress.
Herp. Assoc. Africa (Matieland, South Afr.), pp. 44-51.
Online information: