Amazing Giant plated lizard(Gerrhosaurus validus)

[Eyelash]

On my most recent trip to Hoedspruit I desided get up close and personal with these amazing lizards and thought I'd post some pics of them for those of you that's never had the chance to get so close.






...And then...after sitting with this bloke for about 1-2 hours...










And an idea of the size of these guy's...


Regards
Louis.

[Groenslang]

Epic photos Louis! Just today I was reading up about them and wondered what size they would be when compared to a human scale. Thanx for posting!

[Fooble]

Awesome sighting and series of photos.
How did you manage to catch it in the end?

[Groenslang]

Just pushing up my post count! Not really... Sorry about that, technology is not working with me lately! Mods can you please fix my mess again!

Thats a good point Fooble. How did you catch it Eyelash? Are they proportionately faster than the other plated lizards, or about the same speed?

I also read that they show a social structure and that families ''stick together''. Was this the case with this one?

[Eyelash]

Haha...Thanks guy's...

Fooble...I actually caught two...
The first one while sitting dead still on it's "home" rock for a while...It got close enough to grab and the second one while clearing out a shed to look for snakes.
I did release both directly afterwards.

Groenslang...They are in my opinion just as fast/slow as the other plated lizards but they seem to be way more intelligent tho.
They do occur in family groups and in both cases I observed the adult lizards with at least two youngsters very close by.

Here is a shot of a youngster...a bad one at it haha...


p.s I forgot to try the "grape tactic"...Has anyone tried the "grape tactic" to lure them out of rock cracks ?Does it work ?

[Groenslang]

p.s I forgot to try the "grape tactic"...Has anyone tried the "grape tactic" to lure them out of rock cracks ?Does it work ?

Grape tactic? Like real grapes? I thought they where carniverous?

[Westley Price]

Very beautiful lizards!

While working in Zim I also used to watch these and G. major for hours on end.

A tactic I often use for Cordylus is I sit close to the crack and throw small rocks at the crack. The inhabitant thinks that there are insects outside and when they come out to investigate, you can get you desired pics.

Works like a charm.

[Eyelash]

Haha...jip...I think Mongoose came up with it ?They do eat leaves,soft plants and fruit aswell and just about everything else,including other lizards and small tortoises if I am correct ?

I will def try out the rock throwing some time soon Wes...

[Bushviper]

Grapes are sweet and give off enough of a smell to lure them out. This is quite well known from when Mongoose was still a baby. Mangoes are another favourite.

[Eyelash]

Thanks Arno...

I forgot to mention that it's feeding on a Tailless Whip scorpion in the pics.