Lizards are not among the cutest animals of the planet, but it turns out there is a specific type of reptile that can be put into the “adorable” category. They are called Armadillo lizards and look like a tiny dragon.
You can find this species living in South Africa, in the Succulent Karoo region and its mountains, and they have an armor-like body. Thanks to their looks, they can hide in the mountainous area and stay safe without being noticed by predators. To avoid threats, it developed high survival skills and can even roll and stay still for more than an hour.
The Latin name of these lizards is Ouroborus cataphractus, or more commonly the golden armadillo lizard and they can have various colors, from yellowish nuances to brown. They all have the hard and bony structures of their body, which makes them unique amongst other reptiles.
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They grow up to four inches and can live for as long as 10 years. Another unique trait of the armadillo lizard is that it does not lay eggs and it gives birth to their offspring, which happens 1-2 times a year.
These reptiles are known to stay away from humans, for safety reasons but they still form communal groups inside the reptile family.
The sad aspect of this story is that these tiny armadillo lizards are considered endangered animals as they are unfortunately hunted by humans and sold as pets in illegal markets.
Hopefully trading wild animals will raise some serious questions due to today’s context and these poor beings can continue to live a happy life in the wild.
I’d love to have one, but obviously that won’t ever happen!
Can I purchase one?