101 Marchant Road, Redding, CT, 06896

(203) 938-2117

Plated Lizard

These lizards get their name from “plates” or osteoderms that cover their body. They have a band of stretchy skin running down either side of their body which allows them a little bit of room to expand if they are about to lay eggs or have eaten a particularly big meal. They are known for confusing their predators by running really fast and then suddenly stop with their tail up in the air.  

These lizards are native to the savannas of eastern Africa.  They are omnivores, and are known to enjoy a salad as well as some insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and roaches.  Ours is very content to eat a hearty meal of crickets, mealworms, and wax worms.