Egyptian Mastigure

Egyptian thorn tail ( Uromastyx aegyptia )

The Egyptian thorn tail ( Uromastyx aegyptia ) is a lizard of the family Agamidae ( Agamidae ). It belongs to the genus of the thorn -tailed Agama ( Uromastyx ).

Description

The Egyptian thorn tail ( Uromastyx aegyptia ) reaches a head-body length of up to 75 cm with a body length of 45 cm, making it the largest member of the spiny-tailed lizards. Adult animals can weigh 1.5 to 1.6 kg.

In the Egyptian thorn tails, a distinction into two subspecies: Uromastyx aegyptia aegyptia and Uromastyx microlepis aegyptia. In both subspecies the body scales are remarkably small and smooth. Uromastyx aegyptia aegyptia can change its body color. At high temperatures it is light brown to light gray and at low temperatures it can take a dark, almost black gray. The juvenile plumage consists of 5-6 yellow cross bands on a gray-brown staining. When Uromastyx microlepis aegyptia also occur slightly to yellow or green colored animals.

Dissemination

The Egyptian thorn tail can be found in North Africa from Algeria to Egypt, in the Sinai, Israel, Jordan and the Arabian Peninsula and is thereby the only thorn -tailed Agama, which is common to both the Asian and the African continent.

Food

Like all uromastyx is also the Egyptian thorn tail a strict herbivore. Only juveniles additionally take animal food such as insects to him.

Swell

• Bernhard Grzimek: Grzimek's Animal Life - Volume 6 - critters. DTV 180, ISBN 3-423-03204-9, page 215