Giant girdled lizard

The Sungazer, also referred to as the giant girdled lizard, giant dragon lizard, or giant zonure, is the largest member of the Cordylidae family and is native to sub-Saharan Africa. This threatened species is exclusively found in the Highveld grasslands of South Africa. In 2011, it was reclassified into a new genus named Smaug, alongside seven other species previously classified under the genus Cordylus, following comprehensive genetic studies.

This lizard is easily identifiable by its heavily armored body and distinctive spines. It measures approximately 15-18 cm (5.9-7.1 inches) from snout to vent. The name "sungazer" is derived from its characteristic behavior of raising its body to bask in the sun. Locally, it goes by various names, including ouvolk, pathakalle, and mbedla.

Unlike other Cordylidae species that favor rocky habitats, sungazers excavate their own burrows within the Themeda grasslands. Their diet primarily consists of insects, though they occasionally consume small vertebrates. Sungazers are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, but they reproduce only every 2-3 years and have a low reproductive rate. These lizards have a long lifespan, with some captive individuals living over 20 years.

Regrettably, sungazer populations are in decline due to habitat destruction and illegal collection for the pet trade and traditional medicine. Breeding them in captivity is challenging, with only a few successful attempts recorded worldwide. Wild-caught sungazers are frequently smuggled out of South Africa and sold at high prices in markets such as the US, Europe, and Japan. In South Africa, it is illegal to possess a sungazer without a permit. Additionally, some other lizard species, such as Cordylus tropidosternum and Cordylus jonesii, are sometimes falsely marketed as "dwarf sungazers."