Learn About the Spiky Sungazer Lizard

Do you like lizards? If you do, you will like the sungazer lizard because this lizard has spikes from head to tail.

The lizard’s head has backward pointing spikes forming a crest, which flaps up when it is in danger. Its spiky scales help it avoid being swallowed by predators. The lizard's scales are softer when they’re younger, but as they mature their scales get sharper and stronger.

When predators chase the sungazer lizard , it accelerates to its burrow and flaps up its crest making it pinned inside its burrow. Then, it lashes its tail back and forth at the predator giving the predator a bloody nose.

The sungazer lizard lives up to 25 years in captivity, but in the wild its lifespan is unknown. The sungazer lizard eats spiders, termites, beetles, grasshoppers, and smaller lizards. There are over 50 types of species in the Cordylus family. They live in southern and eastern Africa in the high, dry, and lowlands. The sungazer lizard is roughly the size of a human hand.

There are many lizards in the world; however, sungazer lizards are very different and interesting due to all their unique characteristics. In this world, we still have many more lizards to discover!

[Source: Snakes and Reptiles]

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