Arabian Toad-head Agama

Habitat:

This is a small lizard with a total length smaller than 20 cm. It has a very special head that looks as though it has armour. The tip of the tail changes to black colour and can coil resembling a scorpion, particularly when they are alarmed. They use this strategy to frighten predators by pretending to be like a dangerous scorpion. This is a diurnal species that can be found in dunes and open sandy areas with vegetation and rocks. They eat insects and other small invertebrates. They use the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy and they actively use visual orientation to search for food. Females lay eggs

World Distribution:

The species ranges from south-eastern Jordan into the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran

Conservation status:

It is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List

Scientific publications:

We have found 19 scientific publications about the species in international databases. Most studies are general about the fauna of Arabia, and few deal with ecology, physiology, osteology, behaviour and parasitology. Some scientists use this species to learn about nanotechnology. No ecological information exists for this species in Qatar

Similar species:

None in Qatar

Description:

Anderson, 1894