In breeding season, the chin, throat and sides of the head of the males become tinged with pink-purple. Weathered rocky knolls in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, with one subspecies in Namibia and southern Angola. In parts of Arabia, they are becoming increasingly dependent on raiding crops and garbage dumps. Usually drink about midday. The female usually lays four large, oval eggs with leathery shells in soil-filled cracks in the rock in midsummer.
Plated lizards have a groove running laterally along the length of the body.
This groove contains skin that is not covered with plated scales and allows for expansion. They wander over a large area in search of food, but when disturbed they run back to their rocky hill and hide in cracks. They wedge themselves in place by laying the tail around the body and filling their lungs with air. Since ISIS, and thus zoo records will be using African Plated Lizard for G. validus, we will also. Several in the African Savanna area.