Lizard heads called the parietal eye, a basal ("primitive") feature also present in the tuatara. This "eye" has only a rudimentary retina and lens and cannot form images, but is sensitive to changes in light and dark and can detect movement. This helps them detect predators stalking it from above. Until 2006 it was thought that among lizards, only the Gila monster and the Mexican beaded lizard were venomous. However, several species of monitor lizards, including the Komodo dragon, produce powerful venom in their oral glands. Lace monitor venom, for instance, causes swift loss of consciousness and extensive bleeding through its
Broadley's flat lizard to accurately distinguish between conspecifics of various fitness. They have as many as three times the number of UV photoreceptor cells in their retina compared to other lizards. Sexual maturity is reached at around snout-vent length for both sexes. Females lay two clutches of eggs in early summer. Broadley's flat lizard The Augrabies flat lizard ("Platysaurus broadleyi") is a species of lizard in the Cordylidae family endemic to South Africa. "Platysaurus broadleyi" is also called Broadley's flat lizard. Both the specific name, "broadleyi", and one of the common names, Broadley's flat lizard, are in honor of herpetologist . The Augrabies