[2] A ground-living and burrowing lizard, this species is usually greenish-grey or brownish, with a yellow (or sometimes red) throat and often a narrow stripe down each side.

In mating season the males head change color to either red, yellow or even light blue.

[citation needed] It was first described in 1828 by Weigmann, based on specimens at the Natural History Museum in Berlin that were collected in South Africa by Ludwig Krebs.

It moves rapidly through the "grass" and at any sign of danger darts into its burrow, usually positioned under a bush.

[citation needed] The female plated lizard lays clutches of four or five eggs in a shallow pit which she excavates.