Cordylus nyikae

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Scincomorpha
Superfamilia: Scincoidea

Familia: Cordylidae
Subfamilia: Cordylinae
Genus: Cordylus
Species: Cordylus nyikae
Name

Cordylus nyikae Broadley & Mouton, 2000: 169

Holotype: NMZB-UM 24352, adult ♂, collected by D.G. Broadley on 12 November 1970.

Type locality: “Chelinda Bridge, Nyika National Park, Malawi (10°35'S x 33°48'E), altitude ca. 2400 m. a.s.l.”.
References
Primary references

Broadley, D.G. & Mouton, P.F.N. 2000. A new species of rupicolus Cordylus Laurenti from Malawi (Sauria: Cordylidae). African Journal of Herpetology 49(2): 169–172. DOI: 10.1080/21564574.2000.9635443 Reference page.

Links

Uetz, P. & Hallermann, J. 2022. Cordylus nyikae. The Reptile Database. Accessed on 23 October 2018.

Vernacular names
English: Nyika Girdled Lizard

An isolated population of the Rhodesian girdled lizard (Cordylus rhodesianus) from granite outcrops in montane grassland of northern Malawi was recently redescribed as Cordylus nyikae. Unlike the Rhodesian girdled lizard, the head shields of this species are very rugose, the nostrils are pierced in the lower posterior corner of the nasal scales, and the dorsals do not have a serrated posterior margin. The dorsal coloration is dark brown to gray-brown with lighter spots. The tail and upper lips are light brown. The belly is buff. Its common name is Nyika girdled lizard.[2]
References

Verburgt, L.; Pietersen, D.; Chapeta, Y.; Farooq, H. (2020). "Cordylus nyikae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T110159813A110159824. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T110159813A110159824.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.

Cordylus nyikae, he Reptile Database

Branch, B. (1998). Field Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern. Africa: Ralph Curtis Books Publishing, Sanibel Island, Florida, 399 p.

Broadley, D. G. and Branch, W. R. (2002). A review of the small east African Cordylus (Sauria: Cordylidae), with the description of a new species. African Journal of Herpetology 51(1): 9–34.

Broadley, D. G. and Mouton, P. F. N. (2000). A new species of rupicolous Cordylus laurenti from Malawi (Sauria: Cordylidae). African Journal of Herpetology 49(2): 169–172.