Agama atra

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Agama atra
Agama atra male.jpg
Male (breeding season)
The Ogama lizard on Table Mountain Cape Town 071 (cropped).jpg
Female (breeding season)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Agama
Species:
A. atra
Binomial name
Agama atra
Peters, 1855

The southern rock agama or southern African rock agama (Agama atra) is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae that occurs in Southern Africa in Zambia, South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. It lives in small colonies on rocky outcrops, and the males are very conspicuous for their bright blue heads. [2]

Contents

Distribution

The natural range of this species is over the entire South Africa and Botswana, excluding only sandy areas of the Northern Cape and portions of the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. [3]

Description

This rather sociable agama is normally found in small groups or colonies. It grows up to about 25 cm and has a thin dorsal crest that runs the length of its body. It typically has a short, plump body and a thin tail, with a triangular head. During the breeding season, the heads of the males become bright blue. The males also take to sitting on top of prominent rocks and are therefore a common sight in mountainous areas of South Africa. The females and young are a more uniform greyish-brown and are much more shy.

Agama atra (cropped).jpg
Male
Lagarto (Agama atra), cabo de Buena Esparanza, Sudafrica, 2018-07-23, DD 81 (cropped).jpg
Nonbreeding female

These active, diurnal lizards normally hunt small insects such as ants and termites. They sometimes adjust to living near urban areas and can even live in rocky gardens. However, the increasingly dense populations of domestic cats being kept as pets in suburban areas have unfortunately led to a decline in population, as these introduced predators tend to kill all the agamas in the immediate area. Agama atra's natural predators in the wild include the fiscal shrike and various snakes. Agama atra is also easy prey for eagles and larger reptiles. Under attack the Agamas go into hiding and will only return once the danger is over. Some Agamas are kept as household pets and generally have a good relationship with their pet owners.[ citation needed ]

A. atra has some ability to change colour, although not to the same extent as chameleons, of which the Agamidae are a sister group. When a male agama in breeding colouration is approached by a potential predator, it will lie flat against a rock and lose the intense breeding colours in favour of more cryptic colouration. A dominant male usually occupies a high point in the area and performs a pushup display and head nodding to warn off intruders. [3]

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<i>Ctenophorus decresii</i> Species of lizard

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<i>Agama anchietae</i> Species of lizard

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<i>Acanthocercus adramitanus</i> Species of lizard

Acanthocercus adramitanus, also known commonly as Anderson's rock agama or the Hadramaut agama, is a small species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.

<i>Agama kirkii</i> Species of lizard

Agama kirkii, also known commonly as Kirk's rock agama, is a small species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to southeastern Africa. There are two recognized subspecies.

References

  1. de Villiers, A.; Bates, M.F.; Conradie, W. (2018). "Agama atra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T17450332A115665963. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T17450332A115665963.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Agama atra at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
  3. 1 2 "SCARCE HOME". academic.sun.ac.za. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-09-04.