A Lizard Straight Out of a Pokémon Game: Zimbabwe Girdled Lizards Charm Catherine Brunet

Some animal species are so fascinating that they seem to come straight out of a fantasy movie or a video game. That was exactly the reaction to Cutie and Pointue, 2 adorable Zimbabwe girdled lizards, during a recent segment featuring Joanie Asselin and Sébastien Kfoury alongside actress Catherine Brunet.

Because Catherine loves lizards, Joanie wanted to introduce her to a species she had never seen before. Mission accomplished! From the moment they arrived on set, the 2 little reptiles immediately captured everyone’s attention. With their textured scales, curious little eyes, and almost unreal appearance, many people on set thought they looked just like tiny Pokémon. 

A Fascinating Species from Africa

Zimbabwe girdled lizards are small reptiles native to southern Africa. They are mainly found in trees and mopane forests, a warm and dry environment where they spend much of their time exploring branches in search of food.

In the wild, they primarily feed on insects found throughout their habitat. During the segment, Joanie explained several fascinating facts about this lesser-known species. Despite their impressive appearance with their spiky scales, girdled lizards are generally calm and very curious animals.

At Educazoo, the goal is to introduce the public to lesser-known species in order to raise awareness about the incredible diversity of the animal world. 

The Moment the Lizards “Played Dead”

One of the most surprising moments of the segment happened live on air. While everyone was observing the little reptiles, the girdled lizards suddenly displayed a very unusual defense behavior: they started “playing dead.” 

This impressive behavior is a natural survival strategy used by certain species to avoid predators. Remaining perfectly motionless for a few moments, Cutie and Pointue completely surprised everyone on set. The moment caused plenty of reactions and laughter while also teaching viewers more about the fascinating survival behaviors reptiles develop in the wild.

These are exactly the kinds of moments that make animal segments so memorable.

Discovering Lesser-Known Species

Beyond the fun and adorable moments of the segment, this encounter also highlighted the importance of discovering lesser-known species. For more than 25 years, Joanie Asselin and the Educazoo team have worked to bring people closer to biodiversity through educational, ethical, and interactive experiences.

By discovering animals like Zimbabwe girdled lizards, people quickly realize that every species has unique adaptations, behaviors, and personalities.And sometimes, like with Cutie and Pointue… all it takes is one encounter to completely fall in love with an animal you had never even heard of just moments before.

To watch the segment (17min45) : Click here