Phrynocephalus

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Phrynocephalus
Phrynocephalus versicolor Strauch, 1876 6.JPG
Phrynocephalus versicolor
in Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Agaminae
Genus: Phrynocephalus
Kaup, 1825
Species

36 species, see text.

Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 33 species of small and medium-sized agamid lizards, commonly called toadhead agamas or toad-headed agamas, that inhabit open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. The systematics of this genus are very complicated with many controversial points of view about the unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have adopted the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy and they actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general, the ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia are poorly studied, but seem to be similar to that of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta , and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.

Contents

Species

The following 36 species are recognized as being valid. [1]

Phrynocephalus mystaceus in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia. Phrynocephalus mystaceus.jpg
Phrynocephalus mystaceus in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.

Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phrynocephalus.

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<i>Phrynocephalus mystaceus</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus mystaceus, also known as the secret toadhead agama and toad-headed agama, is a species of agamid lizard. It is found in southern Russia, Kazakhstan, and northwestern China (Xinjiang) and southward to northern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Strauch</span> Russian naturalist

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<i>Phrynocephalus persicus</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus persicus, commonly known as the Persian toad-headed agama, is a small diurnal desert lizard of the family Agamidae. It is the westernmost representative of the Central Asian genus of toad-headed agamas Phrynocephalus and is only known from deserts and semideserts of Iran and possibly Azerbaijan.

<i>Phrynocephalus versicolor</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus versicolor, the Tuvan toad-headed agama, is a species of agamid lizard found in desert areas of China and Mongolia. It was first described by the Russian herpetologist Alexander Strauch, director of the Zoological Museum at the Imperial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg.

<i>Phrynocephalus horvathi</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus horvathi is a small diurnal desert lizard in the family Agamidae. It is endemic to the valley of the Aras River and considered Critically Endangered.

Phrynocephalus clarkorum, also known commonly as the Afghan toad-headed agama and Clark's toad-headed agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to parts of Central and South Asia.

Phrynocephalus forsythii, also known commonly as Forsyth's toadhead agama and Forsyth's toad-headed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to China.

<i>Phrynocephalus guttatus</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus guttatus, also known commonly as the spotted toadhead agama, the Saissan toad-headed agama, the Central Asian toadhead agama, and Salensky's toadhead agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to southeastern Europe and western Asia. There are five recognized subspecies.

<i>Phrynocephalus helioscopus</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus helioscopus, the sunwatcher toadhead agama, Fergana toad-headed agama, or sunwatcher, is a species of agamid lizard found in Kazakhstan, S Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Iraq, China, Mongolia, and Iran.

<i>Phrynocephalus maculatus</i> Species of lizard

Phrynocephalus maculatus, the blacktail toadhead agama or spotted toad-headed agama, is a species of agamid lizard in Iran, Turkmenistan, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

<i>Phrynocephalus przewalskii</i> Species of lizard

Przewalski's toadhead agama, also known as Tsarewsky's toadhead agama, or Steindachner's toadhead agama, is a species of agamid lizard found in China and Mongolia. This species was named after Nikolay Przhevalsky, a Russian Imperial geographer and explorer of Central and East Asia.

<i>Phrynocephalus vlangalii</i> Species of reptile

Phrynocephalus vlangalii, also known as the Qinghai toad-headed agama, the Ching Hai toadhead agama, the Pylzow's toadhead agama, or gecko toadhead agama, is a species of viviparous agamid lizard endemic to the Tibetan Plateau in China. This lizard lives in burrows at high elevations of 2,000 to 4,600 meters. It is also known for its aggression, especially between females during mating season since females usually only have one mate. P. vlangalii curls its tail and shows a patch on its underbelly as defense displays against conspecifics. This lizard also has a variety of gut microbiota that help perform metabolic and biological functions depending on the altitude at which the lizard lives.

Phrynocephalus meridionalis, the sunwatcher toadhead agama or Fergana toad-headed agama, is a species of agamid lizard found in Uzbekistan.

References

  1. Phrynocephalus. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

"Caup [= Kaup JJ]" (1825). "Einige Bemerkungen zu Merrems Handbuch [= Some Remarks on Merrem's Handbook]". Isis von Oken16: 589–593. (Phrynocephalus, new genus, p. 591). (in German).