Common Giant Plated Lizard
Common Giant Plated LizardCommon Giant Plated LizardCommon Giant Plated LizardCommon Giant Plated Lizard

Common Giant Plated Lizard

Matobosaurus validus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
20–30% · Possible
overall probability at Kruger National Park
282 Verified records at Kruger National Park
December Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The giant plated lizard (Matobosaurus validus) is a lizard in the family Gerrhosauridae, which is found in dry to mesic habitats of southern Africa. They are wary and stay close to their rocky retreats. Wikipedia →

20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Giant Plated Lizard sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 282 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kruger National Park

Sudan Plated Lizard
LC

Sudan Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Broadleysaurus major

5–10% · With luck
Eastern Black-lined Plated Lizard
LC

Eastern Black-lined Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gerrhosaurus intermedius

5–10% · With luck
Yellow-throated Plated Lizard
LC

Yellow-throated Plated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gerrhosaurus flavigularis

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

20–30
Jan
20–30
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
10–20
May
10–20
Jun
5–10
Jul
10–20
Aug
20–30
Sep
20–30
Oct
20–30
Nov
30–40
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
2 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
4 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Common Giant Plated Lizard in Kruger National Park?

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Giant Plated Lizard sighting in Kruger National Park, based on 282 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Common Giant Plated Lizard in Kruger National Park?

December has the highest sighting rate for Common Giant Plated Lizard in Kruger National Park in our monthly data.

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