Agama kirkii

Agama kirkii
Male (top) and female (bottom)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Agamidae
Genus:	Agama
Species:	A. kirkii
Binomial name
Agama kirkii Boulenger, 1885

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.

Etymology

The specific name, kirkii, is in honor of British naturalist John Kirk. ^[2]

Description

Adults of A. kirkii usually have a total length of 20–28 cm (7.9–11.0 in) of which 60–70% is the long tail. Maximum recorded total length is 30 cm (12 in). In displaying males, the head is orange, and the body is blue. In breeding females, the head is turquoise, and the body is yellowish gray. ^[3]

Geographic range

A. kirkii is found in Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. ^[4]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of A. kirkii is rocky areas of savanna. ^[1]

Behavior

A. kirkii is terrestrial and rupicolous (rock-dwelling). ^[1] It lives in colonies with a dominant male, and is diurnal. ^[3]

Diet

A. kirkii preys predominately upon ants, but also eats other insects and other arthropods. ^[3]

Reproduction

A. kirkii is oviparous. ^[4] The average clutch size is ten eggs, and the average length (including tail) of each hatchling is 6.5 cm (2.6 in). ^[3]

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. ^[4]

• Agama kirkii fitzsimonsi Loveridge, 1950
• Agama kirkii kirkii Boulenger, 1885

References

1. Tolley KA, Alexander GJ (2021). "Agama kirkii ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T17450557A17450579.en. Accessed on 09 September 2021.
2. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011).The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Agama kirkii, p. 142).
3. Spawls S, Howell K, Hinkel H, Menegon M (2018). A Field Guide to East African Reptiles, Second Edition. London, Oxford, New York,New Delhi, Sydney: Bloomsbury Wildlife. 624 pp. ISBN   978-1-399-40481-5. (Agama kirkii, pp. 238–239).
4. Agama kirkii at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 20 October 2020.

Further reading

• 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. (Agama kirkii, new species, p. 354 + Plate XXVIII, figure 2).
• Broadley DG (2002). "Geographic Distribution. Agama kirkii Boulenger 1885". African Herp News (35): 22–23.
• Broadley S (2017). "Agama kirkii, (Boulenger 1885) [sic], Kirk's Rock Agama, Sand-bathing". African Herp News (64): 35–36.
• Loveridge A (1950). "A New Agamid Lizard (Agama kirkii fitzsimonsi) from southern Rhodesi [sic]". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington63: 127–129. (Agama kirkii fitsimonsi, new subspecies).