Uromastyx ornata

Uromastyx ornata, commonly called the ornate mastigure, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae.

Uromastyx ornata

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Uromastyx
Species:
U. ornata
Binomial name
Uromastyx ornata
Heyden, 1827
Synonyms[2]

Etymology

The subspecific name, philbyi, is in honor of British Arabist Harry St. John Bridger Philby.[3]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]

  • Uromastyx ornata ornata Heyden, 1827
  • Uromastyx ornata philbyi Parker, 1938

Geographic range and habitat

The species is endemic to the Middle East. It can be found on rocky areas in Egypt,[4] Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.[2]

Description
Ornate mastigure
Mating pair

Uromastyx ornata can reach a body length (including the tail) of about 14 inch.[5] These medium-sized lizards are among the most colorful members of the genus. Body color is rather variable, but basically greenish, with a series of yellowish annuli. They have a significantly long, very spiny and slightly flattened tail, formed by 20-23 segments. On the anterior margin of the ear opening there are a few enlarged scales. [2] On the upper side of the thighs are present small spines.

They are sexually dichromatic, [5] as body colour depends on different sexes. In males, the main color of the back is green, blue or red with dark brown bands which can be filled with yellow or rounded yellow spots, often forming transversal rows. Females are dimmer, with a light brown background of the back and light yellow transversal lines. The belly is whitish. [6]

Behavior

They are active during the day and live alone or in small groups consisting of one male and several females. They dig burrows up to 1 meter deep. They feeds on plants and insects. During the breeding season adult males become very colorful. [5] They, like most other members of their genus, are primarily herbivorous, though sometimes taking insects in the case of several species as well as various individuals.

Conservation status

U. ornata is considered Least Concern by the IUCN,[1] but rated as EN (B,C2a) according to "Endangered species in Israel, the red list of threatened animals".

Bibliography
  • Boulenger GA (1885). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume I. ... Agamidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 436 pp. + Plates I-XXXII. (Uromastix ornatus, p. 406).
  • Heyden CHG (1827). "Reptilien ". pp. 1–24 + Plates 1-6. In: Rüppell E (1827). Atlas zu der Reise in nördlichen Afrika. Erste Abtheilung Zoologie. Frankfurt am Main: H.L. Brönner. vi + 350 pp. (Uromastyx ornatus, new species, pp. 1–5 + Plate 1). (in German).
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References
  1. Wilms, Thomas M.; Sindaco, Roberto (2012). "Uromastyx ornata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T198538A2531743. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T198538A2531743.en.
  2. "Uromastyx ornata Heyden, 1827". The Reptile Database. Peter Uetz (database content) and Jakob Hallermann Institute. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Uromastyx ornata philbyi, p. 206).
  4. Baha el Din, Sherif (2006). A Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. 320 pp. ISBN 978-9774249792. (Uromastyx ornata, pp. 44, 135).
  5. Reptiler Magazine
  6. Agamen.nl
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