The Elmenteita agama or Elmenteita rock agama
(''Agama caudospinosa'') is a species of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
from the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Agamidae
Agamidae is a family (biology), family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards.
Overview
phylogenetics, Phylogenetic ...
. The species is endemic to Kenya with the type locality being
Lake Elmenteita
Lake Elmenteita is a soda lake, in the Great Rift Valley, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi, Kenya.
Geography
Elmenteita is derived from the Maasai word , meaning "dust place", a reference to the dryness and dustiness of the area, espec ...
, hence the common name.
Description
The males are predominantly grey, reaching lengths of . They are spiny with relatively wide tails. When "in display", the males show various shades of orange or red around their necks, chins, and chests. Females are smaller and mottled brown with a vertical line of pale spots.
[Spawls, S., Howell, K.M. & Drewes, R.C., Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa, Princeton:Princeton University Press, 2006.]
References
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External links
''Elmenteita Agama'' Herpetology of Africa
caudospinosa
Reptiles of Kenya
Agamid lizards of Africa
Reptiles described in 1910
Endemic fauna of Kenya
Taxa named by Seth Eugene Meek
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