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

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 ...

Etymology

The subspecific name, ''philbyi'', is in honor of British

Arabist An Arabist is someone, often but not always from outside the Arab world, who specialises in the study of the Arabic language and culture (usually including Arabic literature). Origins Arabists began in medieval Muslim Spain, which lay on the ...

Harry St. John Bridger Philby.

Subspecies

Two

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. *'' Uromastyx ornata ornata'' *'' Uromastyx ornata philbyi''

Geographic range and habitat

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

Description

''Uromastyx ornata'' can reach a total length of about 35 cm (14 inches).Reptiler Magazine
/ref> 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. On the upper side of the thighs small spines are present. They are sexually dichromatic, 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.
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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. During the breeding season adult males become very colorful. 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 The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

, 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).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2711487 Uromastyx Agamid lizards of Africa Vertebrates of Egypt Reptiles of the Middle East Reptiles described in 1827 Taxa named by Carl von Heyden