Black Girdled Lizard
Cordylus niger
Silhouette: Beth Reinke · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyCordylidae (Girdle-tail Lizards)
- GenusCordylus
- SpeciesCordylus niger (Black Girdled Lizard)
About the Black Girdled Lizard
Cordylus niger, the black girdled lizard, is a medium-sized lizard restricted to Table Mountain on the Cape Peninsula and a second, isolated population near Langebaan. Black girdled lizards inhabit rocky outcrops on Table Mountain, South Africa. Unlike many other lizard species in the area, these particular Cordylus lizards are not social and are usually seen alone. They are spiny, flat, and pitch black in colour.
Their colour helps these unique lizards to absorb sufficient heat from the sun, in what is one of the darkest, least sunny parts of South Africa. Branch, B., 1998. Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 p.
Fitzsimons, V. F., 1943. The Lizards of South Africa: Transvaal Museum Memoir, Pretoria. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Black Girdled Lizard in Table Mountain National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Table Mountain National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Black Girdled Lizard in Table Mountain National Park?
About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black Girdled Lizard sighting in Table Mountain National Park, based on 2,050 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black Girdled Lizard in Table Mountain National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Black Girdled Lizard in Table Mountain National Park in our monthly data.