Emperor flat lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor flat lizard |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Platysaurus
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| Species: |
imperator
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The emperor flat lizard or imperial flat lizard (Platysaurus imperator) is a cool type of lizard. It belongs to a family called Cordylidae. These lizards are known for their flat bodies and bright colors.
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About the Emperor Flat Lizard
Emperor flat lizards look different depending on their age and gender. Young lizards and females are mostly black. They have three light cream stripes running down their backs. These stripes are yellow on their heads. The stripe in the middle is thin and breaks near their tail. Their tails are a light straw color. Their throats are white, and their bellies are mainly black.
Adult male emperor flat lizards are much more colorful! They have bright yellow heads and dark red bodies. You can see several large, whitish spots on the front part of their bodies. These spots turn yellowish closer to their tails. Their legs are black. The males have a dark red throat with a thick black band around it. Their chests can be reddish or yellowish. Their tails are orange to light yellow underneath. Just like the females and young lizards, their bellies are black.
This type of Platysaurus lizard is the biggest of its kind. Males can grow up to about 14.6 centimeters long. The common flat lizard (Platysaurus intermedius) is a close relative. However, the emperor flat lizard is easy to spot because it's much bigger and has such amazing colors.
Where They Live
The emperor flat lizard lives in specific parts of Africa. You can find them in the northeastern area of Zimbabwe. They also live in the nearby parts of Mozambique.
Their home is usually a type of grassland called a savanna. This area gets a moderate amount of rain. These lizards love to live on top of large rocks and boulders found on hills. They use these rocks for sunbathing and watching for food or danger.
Daily Life and Diet
A big male emperor flat lizard often takes charge of the top of a huge boulder. Several female lizards will usually stay with him. From their high spots, they look for food. Emperor flat lizards enjoy eating different kinds of insects. Their favorite meals include beetles, soft grubs, and ants.
These lizards can live for a long time. Scientists have seen emperor flat lizards live for up to fourteen years!
Reproduction
Female emperor flat lizards lay their eggs during the summer months. They usually lay two eggs at a time. These eggs are quite large for a lizard. Each egg is about 27 millimeters long and 12 millimeters wide.
Conservation Efforts
Sadly, emperor flat lizards are facing a threat. People sometimes collect too many of them to sell as pets. This is called over-collecting. It means that too many lizards are taken from their natural homes. This can make it harder for the lizard population to grow and survive in the wild. Protecting their habitats and controlling how many are collected is important to keep these beautiful lizards safe.
See also
- Platysaurus
- Cordylidae
