.::::: Lizards of the World - Scincomorpha - Cordylus :::::.
Last update: 16 July, 2004

The genus consist of about 30 species distributed mainly in southern Africa.

Cordylus Laurenti, 1768
Zonurus Merrem, 1820
Cordylus angolensis (Bocage, 1895)
Cordylus cordylus angolensis (Bocage, 1895)
Zonurus angolensis Bocage, 1895
Distribution: Angola.
Cordylus aridus Mouton & van Wyk, 1994

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus beraduccii Broadley & Branch, 2002

Distribution: Tanzania.
Cordylus campbelli (FitzSimons, 1938)
Zonurus campbelli FitzSimons, 1938
Distribution: Namibia and South Africa.
Cordylus cataphractus (Gray, 1831)
Cordylus nebulosus Smith, 1838
Zonurus cataphractus Gray, 1831
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus cloetei Mouton & van Wyk, 1994

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus coeruleopunctatus Hewitt & Methuen, 1913
Zonurus coeruleopunctatus Hewitt & Methuen, 1913
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cordylus cordylus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Cordylus dorsalis Cuvier, 1829
Cordylus griseus Cuvier, 1829
Cordylus verus Laurenti, 1768
Lacerta cordylus Linnaeus, 1758
Stellio cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Zonurus cordylus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Zonurus cordylus flavus Rose, 1926
Zonurus griseus (Cuvier, 1829)
Zonurus vertebralis Gray, 1838
Distribution: Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Cordylus giganteus Smith, 1844
Zonurus derbianus Gray, 1845
Zonurus giganteus (Smith, 1844)
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus imkeae Mouton & van Wyk, 1994

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus jonesii (Boulenger, 1891)
Cordylus cordylus jonesii (Boulenger, 1891)
Cordylus tropidosternum jonesii (Boulenger, 1891)
Zonurus cordylus jonesii Boulenger, 1891
Zonurus jonesii Boulenger, 1891
Distribution: Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Cordylus jordani (Parker, 1936)
Cordylus polyzonus jordani (Parker, 1936)
Zonurus jordani Parker, 1936
Distribution: Namibia.
Cordylus lawrenci (FitzSimons, 1939)
Cordylus cordylus lawrenci (FitzSimons, 1939)
Zonurus lawrenci FitzSimons, 1939
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus macropholis (Boulenger, 1910)

Zonurus macropholis Boulenger, 1910

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus mclachlani Mouton, 1986

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus minor FitzSimons, 1943
Cordylus cordylus minor FitzSimons, 1943
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus namaquensis (Methuen & Hewitt, 1914)
Zonurus namaquensis Methuen & Hewitt, 1914
Distribution: Namibia and South Africa.
Cordylus niger Cuvier, 1829
Calyptoprymnus verecundus De Vis, 1905
Cordylus cordylus niger Cuvier, 1829
Zonurus cordylus atrus Power, 1930
Zonurus cordylus niger (Cuvier, 1829)
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus nyikae Broadley & Mouton, 2000

Distribution:
Malawi.
Cordylus oelofseni Mouton & van Wyk, 1990

Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus peersi (Hewitt, 1932)
Zonurus peersi Hewitt, 1932
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus polyzonus Smith, 1838
Cordylus polyzonus polyzonus Smith, 1838
Zonurus polyzonus (Smith, 1838)
Distribution: Namibia and South Africa.
Cordylus pustulatus (Peters, 1862)
Cordylus cordylus pustulatus (Peters, 1862)
Zonurus pustulatus
Peters, 1862
Distribution: Namibia.
Cordylus rhodesianus (Hewitt, 1933)
Cordylus cordylus rhodesianus (Hewitt, 1933)
Zonurus cordylus rhodesianus (Hewitt, 1933)
Distribution: Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Cordylus rivae (Boulenger, 1896)
Cordylus cordylus rivae (Boulenger, 1896)
Zonurus rivae Boulenger, 1896
Distribution: Ethiopia.
Cordylus tasmani (Power, 1930)
Cordylus cordylus tasmani (Power, 1930)
Zonurus tasmani Power, 1930
Distribution: South Africa.
Cordylus tropidosternum (Cope, 1869)
Cordylus cordylus tropidosternum (Cope, 1869)
Cordylus tropidosternum tropidosternum (Cope, 1869)
Zonurus frenatus Pfeffer, 1889
Zonurus parkeri Cott, 1934
Zonurus tropidosternum Cope, 1869
Distribution: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Cordylus ukingensis (Loveridge, 1932)
Zonurus ukingensis Loveridge, 1932
Distribution: Tanzania.
Cordylus vittifer (Reichenow, 1887)
  • vittifer (Reichenow, 1887)
    Zonurus cordylus var. vittifer Reichenow, 1887
    Zonurus vittifer Reichenow, 1887
    Zonurus tropidogaster Boulenger, 1910
  • machadoi Laurent, 1964
  • Cordylus machadoi Laurent, 1964
    Distribution: Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland.
    Cordylus warreni (Boulenger, 1908)
  • warreni (Boulenger, 1908)
    Zonurus warreni Boulenger, 1908
  • barbertonensis (Van Dam, 1921)
    Zonurus barbertonensis Van Dam, 1921
  • breyeri (Van Dam, 1921)
    Zonurus breyeri Van Dam, 1921
  • depressus (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Zonurus barbertonensis depressus FitzSimons, 1930
  • laevigatus (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Cordylus laevigatus (FitzSimons, 1933)
    Zonurus laevigatus FitzSimons, 1930
  • mossambicus FitzSimons, 1958
    Cordylus mossambicus FitzSimons, 1958
  • perkoensis (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Cordylus vandami perkoensis (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Zonurus vandami perkoensis FitzSimons, 1930
  • regius Broadley, 1962
  • Cordylus regius Broadley, 1962
  • vandami (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Cordylus vandami (FitzSimons, 1930)
    Zonurus vandami FitzSimons, 1930
    Distribution: Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.
  • Keys
    Key to small East African Cordylus
    (from Broadley & Branch, 2002)
    Literature
    Adolphs, K. & M. Tröger. 1987. Lebensweise, Haltung und Zuchtproblematik des Riesengürtelschweifs Cordylus giganteus A. Smith, 1844. herpetofauna, 9(46): 28-33.
    Badenhorst, N.C. 1990. An Analysis of the Cordylus polyzonus Complex (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the Southwestern Cape. Unpubl. ms thesis, Univ. Stellenbosch, South Africa.
    Bauwens, D., A.M. Castilla & P. le F.N. Mouton. 1999. Field body temperatures, activity levels and opportunities for thermoregulation in an extreme microhabitat specialist, the girdled lizard (Cordylus macropholis). J. Zool., 249: 11-18.
    Boulenger, G.A. 1896. A list of the reptiles and batrachians collected by the Late Prince Eugenio Ruspoli in Somaliland and Gallaland in 1893. Ann. Mus. Civ. Storia nat. Genova, 17: 5-14.
    Branch, B. 1988. Field guide to the snakes and other reptiles of Southern Africa. New Holland Ltd., London, 328 pp.
    Branch, W.R. & R.W. Patterson. 1975. Notes on the Ecology of the Giant Girdled Lizard, Cordylus giganteus. J. Herpetol., 9(4): 364-366.
    Bringsøe, H. 2001. “Begynderøgler”. NHF, 44(1): 2-6.
    Broadley, D.G. 1971. A reassessment of the northern forms currently assigned to the Cordylus cordylus group. J. Herpetol. Assoc. Afr., 7: 20-22.
    Broadley, D.G. & W.R. Branch. 2002. A review of the small east African Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae), with the description of a new species. Afr. J. Herpetol., 51(1): 9-34.
    Broadley, D.G. & P. Le F.N. Mouton. 2000. A new species of rupicolous Cordylus Laurenti from Malawi (Sauria: Cordylidae). Afr. J. Herpetol., 49: 169-172.
    Brody, L.S., P. le F.N. Mouton & W.S. Grant. 1993. Electrophoretic analysis of the Cordylus cordylus species group in the southwestern Cape, South Africa. Amphibia-Reptilia, 14: 19-33.
    Burrage, B.R. 1974. Population structure in Agama atra and Cordylus cordylus cordylus in the vicinity of De Kelders, Cape Province. Ann. South Afr. Mus., 66: 1-23.
    Cooper, W.E., Jr. & L.J. Steele. 1999. Lingually Mediated Discriminations Among Prey Chemicals and Control Stimuli in Cordyliform Lizards: Presence in a Gerrhosaurid and Absence in Two Cordylids. Herpetologica, 55(3): 361-368.
    Cordes, I.G., P. le F.N. Mouton & J.H. van Wyk. 1995. Sexual dimorphism in two closely related lizard species, Cordylus niger and Cordylus cordylus. S. Afr. J. Zool., 30: 187-196.
    Cott, H.B. 1934. The Zoological Society's expedition to the Zambesi, 1927: No. 5. On a collection of lizards, mainly from Portuguese East Africa, with descriptions of new species of Zonurus, Monopeltis and Chirindia. Proc. zool. Soc. London, 1934: 145-173.
    Donovan, P. 1997. The Giant Zonure or Sungazer. Reptile Hobbyist, 2(6): 30-34.
    FitzSimons, V. 1943. The lizards of South Africa. Transvaal Mus. Mem., 1: 1-528.
    Flemming, A.F. & P. Le F.N. Mouton. 2002. Reproduction in a Group-Living Lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Cordylidae), from South Africa. J. Herpetol., 36(4): 691-696.
    Flemming, A.F. & J.H. van Wyk. 1992. The Female Reproductive Cycle of the Lizard Cordylus p. polyzonus (Sauria: Cordylidae) in the Southwestern Cape Province, South Africa. J. Herpetol., 26(2): 121-127.
    Grathwohl, J. 2000. Afrikanske krybdyr i terrarium 1. Bæltehaleøgler (Cordylus). NHF, 43(6): 154-160.
    Hart, H. 1976. Pleje af Cordylus warreni. NHF, 19(7): 152-154.
    Hewitt, J. 1933. Descriptions of some new reptiles and a frog from Rhodesia. Occ. Pap. Rhod. Mus., 1: 45-50.
    Jacobsen, N.H.G., R.E. Newbery & W. Petersen. 1990. On the ecology and conservation status of Cordylus giganteus A. Smith in the Transvaal. S. Afr. J. Zool., 25(1): 61-66.
    Klerks, M., R. Struijk & V.J.T. Loehr. 2002. Die Haltung des Zwerggürtelschweifs Cordylus tropidosternum tropidosternum (Cope, 1869). elaphe, 10(2): 31-43.
    Krabbe-Paulduro, U. & E. Paulduro, Jr. 1987. Cordylus jonesii (Boulenger). Amphibien-/Reptilien-Kartei (Beilage zu Sauria) (Suppl.), 9(4): 93-96.
    Krabbe-Paulduro, U. & E. Paulduro, Jr. 1991. Pflege und Nachzucht des Panzergürtelschweifs Cordylus cataphractus Boie 1828. Sauria, 13(2): 11-13.
    Kutschera, U. 1977. Pleje og opdræt af Cordylus cordylus. NHF, 20(9): 208-210.
    Loveridge, A. 1932. New reptiles and amphibians from Tanganyika Territory and Keny Colony. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 72: 375-387.
    Loveridge, A. 1944. Revision of the African lizards of the family Cordylidae. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 95: 1-118.
    Matz, G. 1975. Bælteøgler (Cordylidae). NHF, 18(7): 147-154.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. 1985. Comments on the Cordylus cordylus complex in the south-western Cape. J. Herp. Assoc. Afr., 31: 16-18.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. 1986. Description of a new species of Cordylus Laurenti (Reptilia: Cordylidae) from the south-western Cape, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Zool., 21: 319-324.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. 1987. Phenotypic variation among populations of Cordylus cordylus (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the south-western Cape Province, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Zool., 22: 119-127.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. 1988. Cordylus cataphractus: species account. pp. 81-82. In: Branch, W.R. (ed.). South African Red Data Book - Reptiles and Amphibians. S.Afr. Natl Sci. Program Rep. 151.
    Mouton, P. le F.N., A.F. Flemming & E.M. Kanga. 1999. Grouping behaviour, tail-biting behaviour and sexual dimorphism in the armadillo lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) from South Africa. J. Zool. Lond., 249: 1-10.
    Mouton, P. le F.N., A.F. Flemming & C.J. Nieuwoudt. 2000. Sexual Dimorphism and Sex Ratio in a Terrestrial Girdled Lizard, Cordylus macropholis. J. Herpetol., 34(3): 379-386.
    Mouton, P. le F.N., D. Fourie & A.F. Flemming. 2000. Oxygen consumption in two cordylid lizards, Cordylus cataphractus and Cordylus polyzonus. Amphibia-Reptilia, 21: 502-507.
    Mouton, P. le F.N., H. Geertsema & L. Visagie. 2000. Foraging mode of a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Cordylidae). Afr. Zool., 35: 1-7.
    Mouton, P. le F.N., C.J. Nieuwoudt, N.C. Badenhorst & A.F. Flemming. 2002. Melanistic Cordylus polyzonus (Sauria: Cordylidae) populations in the Western Cape, South Africa: Relics or Ecotypes? J. Herpetol., 36(3): 526-531.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. & B.W. Oelofsen. 1988. A model explaining patterns of geographic character variation in Cordylus cordylus (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the south-western Cape, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Zool., 23: 20-31.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. & J.H. van Wyk. 1989. Cordylus minor: A valid species of South African lizard (Reptilia: Cordylidae). S. Afr. J. Zool., 24: 322-328.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. & J.H. van Wyk. 1990. Taxonomic status of the melanistic forms of the Cordylus cordylus complex (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the south-western Cape, South Africa. S. Afr. J. Zool., 25(1): 31-38.
    Mouton, P. le F.N. & J.H. van Wyk. 1994. Taxonomic status of geographical isolates in the Cordylus minor complex (Reptilia: Cordylidae). J. Herp. Assoc. Afr., 43: 6-18.
    Nieuwoudt, C.J. 2001. The Effects of Coastal Lowland Instability: Melanism in Cordylus polyzonus and Terrestriality in Cordylus macropholis. Unpubl. ms thesis, Univ. Stellenbosch.
    Nieuwoudt, C.J., P. le F.N. Mouton & A.F. Flemming. 2003. Sex Ratio, Group Composition and Male Spacing in the Large-Sclaed Girdled Lizard, Cordylus macropholis. J. Herpetol., 37(3): 577-580.
    Nuijten, P. 1989. De Verzorging en kweek van enkele hagedissen van het geslacht Cordylus (1). Lacerta, 48(1): 6-11.
    Nuijten, P. 1989. De Verzorging en kweek van enkele hagedissen van het geslacht Cordylus (2). Lacerta, 48(2): 34-37.
    Ortner, A. 1993. Panzer-Gürtelschweife. DATZ, 46(12): 777.
    Paulduro, E. & U. Krabbe-Paulduro. 1987. Anmerkungen zur Lebensweise, Haltung und Zuchtproblematik des Riesengürtelschweifs Cordylus giganteus A. Smith, 1844. Sauria, 9(4): 9-17.
    Peers, B. 1930. A record of the peculiarities of the lizard Zonurus cataphractus (Boie), as observed during travels in Namaqualand in May 1928. S. Afr. J. nat. Hist., VI: 402-411.
    Peters, W.C.H. 1862. Eine Übersicht einiger von dem, durch seiner afrikanischen Sprachforschungen rühmlichts bekannten, Hrn. Missionär C.H. Hahn bei Neu- Barmen, im Hererolande an der Westküste von Afrika, im 21º südl. Br. gesammelten Amphibiens, nebst Beschreibungen der neuen Arten. Mber. Königl. Akad. Wiss. Berlin, 1862: 15-26.
    Pfeffer, G. 1889. Übersicht der von Herrn Dr. Franz Stuhlmann in Ägypten, auf Sansibar und dem gegenüberliegenden Festlande gesammelten Reptilien, Amphibien, Fische, Mulluksen und Krebse. Jb. Hamburg wiss. Anst., 6: 1-36.
    Power, J.H. 1930. On the South African species of the genus Zonurus. Ann. Transv. Mus., 14: 11-19.
    Schmidt, A. 1988. Den almindelige bæltehale (Cordylus cordylus). NHF, 31(9): 258-265.
    Switak, K.H. 1993. Sonnengucker. DATZ, 46(8): 504-507.
    Van Dam, G.P.F. 1921. Description of new species of Zonurus, and notes on the species of Zonurus occurring in the Transvaal. Ann. Transv. Mus., 7: 239-243.
    Visagie, L. 2001. Grouping behaviour in the armadillo lizard, Cordylus cataphractus. Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. Stellenbosch.
    Visagie, L., P. le F. Mouton & A.F. Flemming. 2002. Intergroup movement in a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus, from South Africa. Afr. J. Herpetol., 51(1): 75-80.
    Visser, J. 1971. Cordylus cordylus and its races in the Cape Province - a general discussion. J. Herpetol. Assoc. Afr., 7: 18-20.
    Welzel, A. 1981. Cordylus giganteus. herpetofauna, 11: 17.
    Wesiak, K. & D. Vogel. 1993. Einige Daten zur Haltung und Nachzucht des Panzergürtelschweifs Cordylus cataphractus Boie, 1828. herpetofauna, 15(86): 18-20.
    Wöhrmann, T. 1990. Erfolgreiche Therapie eines Cordylus warreni depressus (Boulenger, 1908) mit Struma aufgrund einer Verdachtsdiagnose. Salamandra, 26(4): 321-322.
    Wyk, J.H. van. 1990. Seasonal Testicular Activity and Morphometric Variation in the Femoral Glands of the Lizard Cordylus polyzonus polyzonus (Sauria: Gekkonidae). J. Herpetol., 24(4): 405-409.
    Wyk, J.H. van. 1992. Life History and Physiological Ecology of the Lizard, Cordylus giganteus. Unpubl. Ph.D. diss., Univ. Cape Town, South Africa.
    Wyk, J.H. van. 1994. FAt body and liver cycles in the large Girdled Lizard, Cordylus giganteus. Amphibia-Reptilia, 15: 153-169.
    Wyk, J.H. van. 1994. Physiological Changes during the Female Reproductive Cycle of the Viviparous Lizard Cordylus giganteus (Sauria: Gekkonidae). Herpetologica, 50(4): 480-493.
    Wyk, J.H. van. 1995. The Male Reproductive Cycle of the Lizard, Cordylus giganteus (Sauria: Cordylidae). J. Herpetol., 29(4): 522-535.
    Zeylemaker, G. 1983. De geboorte en het opkweken van Cordylus jonesi (de dwerggordelstaart). Lacerta, 41(6): 108-109.