Giant plated lizard

Introduction: The Giant Plated lizard (Gerrhosaurus validus) is a large lizard, identifiable because of a flattened head and body. The live in rocks, preferring the upper slopes of large granite koppies where they are fairly common. As they are shy creatures, getting close is difficult as is catching them. A safety feature is the ability to jam themselves in between cracks in the rock by inflating the body.

Distribution: North-west Namibia from Windhoek to the south Angolan border, less for the Namib Desert.

Diet: Invertebrates and vegetable matter such flowers, leaves and soft fruit such as figs. They have also be known to eat small lizards and at times baby tortoises.

Colouring: The back is dark-brown to black with a dirty white throat and light brown belly.

Breeding: Females lay an average of 4 large, oval eggs around mid-summer in rock crevices that contain soil.

Size: SVL 200 to 250mm. Max SVL 285mm.