Sudan Plated Lizard

Gerrhosaurus major (also called Broadleysaurus major)

A sturdy African lizard covered in rows of square, plate-like scales, with a tail twice as long as its body.

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About the Sudan Plated Lizard

Sudan plated lizards grow 1 to 2 feet long and weigh about 1 pound, and their tail is often twice as long as the body. Rows of square, plate-like, ridged scales give them their name. They are dull yellow or brown with speckles, and males have brightly colored throats. They live in savannas, cliffs and mountains from Ethiopia to South Africa and west to Togo, sheltering in burrows, rock cracks and old termite nests.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Gerrhosaurus major (also called Broadleysaurus major)^[1][2]
Size: About 1 to 2 feet long.^[1]
Weight: About 1 pound.^[1]
Lifespan: 5 to 10 years in the wild; 20+ in human care.^[1]
Diet: Omnivore. Fruit, seeds, insects, millipedes and small lizards.^[1]
Habitat: Savanna, cliffs, mountains and steppe.^[1]
Where it lives: Eastern and southern Africa, from Ethiopia to South Africa, west to Togo.^[1]
Babies: Usually 2 eggs.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2014).^[2]

Fun facts

Its tail is often twice as long as its body.^[1]
Even the soles of its feet have ridged scales.^[1]
Plated lizards sometimes live in old termite nests.^[1]

Vocabulary

keeled: Having a ridge down the middle, like a boat's keel.
scale: A small, hard plate that covers a reptile's skin.
omnivore: An animal that eats both plants and other animals.
burrow: A hole or tunnel dug in the ground by an animal.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Oakland ZooOakland, California · African SavannaSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Oakland Zoo. “Sudan Plated Lizard.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/sudan-plated-lizard/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Broadleysaurus major (Rough-scaled Plated Lizard).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/13152261/13152266 (accessed 2026-10-02)