The Sungazer Dragon: The Real Smaug

“Cordylus giganteus” by Wilfried Berns / www.Tiermotive.de – de: Bild:Riesenguertelschweif-21.jpg. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.

Smaug Giganteus aka The Sungazer aka The Giant Girdled Lizard aka THE COOLEST LOOKING DUDE EVER! Tolkien clearly named The Hobbit’s primary dragon – Smaug – after this little ripper.

Sungazers lived the good life until us humans began collecting them as pets and realized they’re stupidly difficult to breed in captivity. Now they’re endangered. Sad face.

“Cordylus giganteus 2” by Eric Johnston (Ericj) – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Aptly named due to their favourite past-time, I wonder if these spikey darlings have gained some kind of solar-spiritual enlightenment, have an abundance of vitamin D, advanced melanoma or terrible eye-site? Any which way, life must be pretty good.

Suntanning at the entranceway of their underground abodes and sleeping for the whole of winter can’t be too bad a life. Not sure what UKIP would think of these lay-a-bouts though.

“Riesengürtelschweif (Cordylus giganteus) (3)” by Cymothoa exigua – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Assuming the name girdle isn’t referring to some massive pants they wear to hold their guts in, I reckon that could be an anatomical term for their spines. And what fine armour that is. When under attack, Monsieur Sungazer burrows headfirst into their holey homes dug into silt, pointing the tips of their bodily spears towards the predator.

There really isn’t many left though. In the wild they only have kids once every 2 years and will not breed in captivity at all. Can we stop destroying their natural habitat please? I love them.

MORE IMPRESSIVE NATURE:

DOUC LANGERS: PRIMATE WIZARDS

THE LOUD AND SECRETIVE SPERM WHALE

DUCK BILLED PLATYPUS: WEIRDER THAN YOU THINK

6FT TALL PENGUINS