Girdle-tailed lizard (armored lizard)

Japanese: ヨロイトカゲ(鎧蜥蜴) - ヨロイトカゲ（英語表記）girdle‐tailed lizard

A general term for lizards with hard scales in the Cordylidae family. About 54 species are found in Africa except for the north. Small ones can reach a total length of 13-15 cm, while large ones can reach 40-70 cm. Their entire bodies are covered with hard, plate-like scales with osteoderms. They mainly eat insects. A typical example is the 12 species of the Cordylus genus found in eastern and southern Africa, whose backs are covered with spiny scales, especially on the back of the head and neck, and whose entire tails are covered with well-developed spines that serve as a weapon for self-defense.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヨロイトカゲ科Cordylidaeに含まれる堅い鱗板をもつトカゲ類の総称。54種ほどが北部を除くアフリカに分布する。小型のものは全長13～15cm，大型のものは40～70cmに達する。全身が皮骨をもった堅い板状の体鱗に覆われる。おもに昆虫類を食べる。代表的なものはアフリカの東･南部に分布するヨロイトカゲ属Cordylusの12種で，背面はとげ状の鱗板で覆われ，とくに後頭部や頸部（けいぶ）では鋭いとげ状となり，また尾部全体が発達したとげに覆われ，自衛の武器となる。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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