When kept in captivity you should feed an Armadillo crickets. They will also eat crickets, spiders and millipedes in the wild.
These carnivores are slow-moving so prefer to sit-and-wait for any prey that is larger than a termite. Termites are an extremely important part of their diet so they often forage at termite mounds. What Do Armadillo Lizards Eat?Īrmadillos are sit-and-wait predators that mostly eat termites. They may tolerate a few minutes of handling but it is best to handle them as little as possible. If this happens the best thing you can do is to give your lizard space and time to relax. Rather than scurry under rocks when they are scared, they tail-bite and roll into a ball (like a Ball Python). They are known to be very docile but can become stressed with handling. These lizards spend most of their time basking or lying under rocks.ĭespite their strong bite they rarely bite in captivity. In captivity, many owners keep tank temperatures consistently high enough to prevent brumation. Very rarely do they have two live offspring. Unlike reptiles that lay eggs, females give birth to one live offspring. When males wish to mate they pursue a female until courtship occurs. They have very powerful jaws and have been known to bite off toes and draw blood. The mating season in South Africa begins in September and lasts for two months. Males can become territorial, especially during the mating season. Some have theorized that gathering in groups may offer some protection from predators. In the wild they are nearly always found in groups of four to six lizards.
#Armadillo pet skin#
That is because they are heavily built and slow-moving.īecause of their heavily armored skin they cannot run away from predators. They grab their tail and roll into a ball ( pictured above).Īrmadillo Girdled Lizards spend most of their time basking in the sun or hiding between rocks. The Armadillo Lizard is named for its appearance when being defensive. Instead use the fact that Males have hemipenal bulges and broader heads as identifiers. This means length is not always an accurate indicator of their sex. Males are normally slightly longer than females, but they are generally very close in size. They are considered juveniles when they grow between 2.3 and 3.7 inches. Neonatal Armadillos are born around two inches in length. Several websites claimed this species is actually 15 – 17 inches long – this is incorrect. Armadillo Lizard SizeĪdult Armadillos are very small and grow to just over four inches in length. Their underbellies are normally yellow with a black pattern. Unlike other popular pet reptiles such as the Bearded Dragon, the Armadillo Lizard is not very colorful. Their body and head are flat to give them the ability to squeeze between rocks. These spikes are called osteoderms and are also found on other reptiles such as Sulcata Tortoises, alligators and crocodiles. This girdled lizard has spiny armor-like skin all over their head, body, tail, and legs. Species Appearance Sometimes the Armadillo Girdled Lizard’s mouth and eyes are black.Īrmadillos are easily identified by their armor-like skin. Difficult to buy as they are illegal to export from South Africa.Breeding in captivity can be difficult.
They can become stressed with handling.This social behavior has captivated herpetologists and researchers. This even happens when there is enough shelter to house each lizard individually. Unlike many independent lizards Armadillos prefer to live in groups. These lizards also have unique social behaviors too. So they named this lizard after the Armadillo. Researchers noted this behavior bears a striking resemblance to a frightened mammalian armadillo. When they see a predator, if they feel they need to protect themselves, they curl into a ball and bite their tails. Their unique appearance makes them look like a tiny dragon. Their range stretches 400 miles from the Orange River to the Piketberg Mountains and inland to Matjiesfontein – a semi-desert region of South Africa.Īrmadillos have prominent spines that help to protect them from predators in the wild. spiny-tailed) from South Africa.Īrmadillos are found in the western districts of South Africa. This reptile belongs to the Cordylidae family. Armadillo Lizards are popular pets because of their spiny coats of armor that make them look like a dragon.
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