Looking like a miniature version of the dragons in “Game of Thrones,” these armadillo lizards are quite amazing looking.
Similar to their name, they have an outer layering that is armored like an armadillo. Just like the armadillo, whenever these lizards are under threat, they curl up into a ball to be protected by their built-in armor. Most often times, these little lizards can be found hiding out in small crevices and rock formations.
They are also natives of South Africa and have adapted many ways of shielding themselves from the area’s harsh climate and predators. As a result, they’ve become quite adept at hiding. These unique little animals are lovers of sunbathing like many other reptiles, but unlike most reptiles, armadillo lizards don’t lay eggs.
Their diet consists of termites, small insects, and invertebrates, but they don’t need a whole lot of food to survive. Because of their incredible likeness to ‘dragons’, sadly they have been under attack by illegal poachers who sell them as pets.
The scientific name for these lizards is Ouroborus cataphractus. Normally found in South Africa’s rocky Succulent Karoo region, armadillo lizards are also called the golden armadillo lizard. While they may look fearsome on the outside, they’re actually quite slow and docile and when confronted with danger and would rather run away than fight. These lizards range in color, from brown to light brown, and their entire bodies are covered in sharp spikes.
The only part of these lizards not covered in spindles is their underbelly, which is quite soft. So, when they are threatened and have to curl up, their armored bodies help to protect them. They can remain in a ball for up to an hour. This unique defense mechanism means that they’re kept safe from other predators such as snakes and mongoose. They only grow to be as large as four inches in length but have a lifespan of around 10 years.
Normally, these reptiles will give birth to one or two young each year, with their gestation period being between six to eight months long.
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