image credit: terr-bo
Habitat: desert areas of southern Africa
The Armadillo Lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) is a comparatively small reptile that grows around 16 to 21 cm in length. It's kind of a strange little lizard too, that is because it has an unusual behavior compared to the normal lizards.
For instance, the Armadillo Lizards lives in groups of approximately 30–60 animals, though usually fewer. The females give birth to a few live young making this one of the few lizard species that doesn't lay eggs. The female may even go out of her way to feed the young, which is also unusual for a lizard.
The most remarkable aspect of the Armadillo Lizard is its uncommon anti-predator adaptation: if it is out in the open, away from cover, and is threatened by a predator; it will roll itself into a ball like an armadillo (hence it name), keeping a tight hold of its tail with its mouth. In this shape it will expose it’s though, horny scales along its back and the spines on its tail.
Lamentably, this amazing species is highly endangered due to the illegal pet trade. So my advice is if you ever come across an Armadillo Lizard in stores, PLEASE DON'T BUY THEM! because if you do so, you're just contributing to the depletion of the Armadillo Lizards…