Because of the Maasai girdled lizard's timid behavior and ability to easily reproduce asexually in captivity, it is quite common in the pet trade. It is the second most common girdled lizard bred in captivity behind the
East African spiny-tailed lizard (
Cordylus tropidosternum), and both species tend to fall under the same name of
armadillo lizard, though unlike the real species of that name (
Ouroborus cataphractus), this species does not grasp its tail and form a ball for defense. ==Taxonomy==