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Description
The giant plated lizard is the second largest lizard species found in South Africa, after the monitor lizard, and they are known to attain a body length of approximately 690 mm. Giant plated lizards are rupicolous, which means that they live among rocky outcrops, mostly on the upper slopes of granite hills. Giant plated lizards are shy and hard to approach – an individual will often retreat into rock crevices at the slightest disturbance and inflate its body, effectively wedging itself into the crevice and making it very difficult for anything to dislodge it. Giant plated lizards are large and are characterised by a flattened head and body profile. There are known to grow up to 690 mm in total body length. The back of the lizard is dark brown to black, with each head shield and dorsal scale spotted yellow, giving a speckled appearance; a pair of broad stripes is sometimes present along the back. The throat is dirty white, and the belly is light brown. During the breeding season, the chin, throat and sides of the head of the males become tinged with pink-purple.
Info source URL: www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-we…
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Photo capture date & Location: 2014-01 Bushtime at Mabula

Description
The giant plated lizard is the second largest lizard species found in South Africa, after the monitor lizard, and they are known to attain a body length of approximately 690 mm. Giant plated lizards are rupicolous, which means that they live among rocky outcrops, mostly on the upper slopes of granite hills. Giant plated lizards are shy and hard to approach – an individual will often retreat into rock crevices at the slightest disturbance and inflate its body, effectively wedging itself into the crevice and making it very difficult for anything to dislodge it. Giant plated lizards are large and are characterised by a flattened head and body profile. There are known to grow up to 690 mm in total body length. The back of the lizard is dark brown to black, with each head shield and dorsal scale spotted yellow, giving a speckled appearance; a pair of broad stripes is sometimes present along the back. The throat is dirty white, and the belly is light brown. During the breeding season, the chin, throat and sides of the head of the males become tinged with pink-purple.
Info source URL: www.sanbi.org/animal-of-the-we…
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Photo capture date & Location: 2014-01 Bushtime at Mabula