The Rhodesian girdled lizard (Cordylus rhodesianus) is one of three species of very flattened girdled lizards from Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...

, Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

, and Mozambique

Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...

. The other two species are Cordylus nyikae

Cordylus nyikae

An isolated population of the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard from granite outcrops in montane grassland of northern Malawi was recently redescribed as Cordylus nyikae...

and Cordylus meculae

Cordylus meculae

A third species from the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard complex, the Mecula Girdled Lizard Cordylus meculae, was described from Serra Mecula in northern Mozambique. It lives in granite outcrops of montane grasslands and dry Miombo woodland. The nostril pierces the center of the nasal scale and the head...

. They are found living under stones in rock outcrops where they feed on small arthropods. Adults are 60-90 mm long from snout to vent. The tail length is approximately half the total length.

Also known as the Zimbabwe girdled lizard, they live in rocky montane

Montane

In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...

 grassland

Grassland

Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...

s of eastern Zimbabwe. The head shields are smooth or slightly rugose. The nostril is pierced in the center of the nasal scale and the dorsal scales have a serrated posterior margin. The back is olive-brown with irregularly spaced dark and light blotches. The belly is yellow to gray. Both sexes have femoral pores. Females typically grow larger than males and have smaller anal spurs.

Zimbabwe girdled lizards are exported from Mozambique for the pet trade. Although they are sold as C. rhodesianus, many individuals may actually be Cordylus nyikae

Cordylus nyikae

An isolated population of the Rhodesian Girdled Lizard from granite outcrops in montane grassland of northern Malawi was recently redescribed as Cordylus nyikae...

. Zimbabwe girdled lizards remain skittish in captivity and require numerous hiding places constructed with stacked rocks.