It's a Little Lizard Doughnut!

When it rolls into an armadillo-y shape, it looks like a spiky lizard doughnut!

Meet the armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus) from South Africa! When this cute critter feels upset, it rolls itself into a ball and bites its tail to hold that way. I’m not sure if it rolls around or not…but if so, YAY!

In 2011, it was moved into a separate genus of its own—Ouroborus—from another girdled lizard genus, Cordylus. Another species of lizard, the giant girdled lizard, was also given a new binomial name. J.R.R. Tolkien lovers will love this one: Smaug giganteus!

Armadillo girdled lizards are commonly sold as pets. They are very easy to breed in captivity, but their numbers are decreasing in the wild from collection. They can live up to 25 years in captivity.

It eats small invertebrates, such as spiders and termites, but also some plant material.

I WANT ONE! I’d want one even more if it didn’t harm the environment. :,(