Phrynocephalus mystaceus

Last updated

Phrynocephalus mystaceus
Phrynocephalus mystaceus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Phrynocephalus
Species:
P. mystaceus
Binomial name
Phrynocephalus mystaceus
(Pallas, 1776)
Synonyms [2]

Lacerta mystaceaPallas, 1776

Phrynocephalus mystaceus, also known as the secret toadhead agama [2] and toad-headed agama, [1] 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. [1] [2] The most exciting feature of the toad-headed agamas is their defense mechanism. When threatened, they flatten their bodies and open their mouths wide, such that their bright-colored flaps open. This, along with continuous hissing, scares whatever predator they encounter. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized: [2]

Habitat

Phrynocephalus mystaceus is generally associated with unvegetated tops of large, high sand dunes and occurs at elevations of −45–1,000 m (−148–3,281 ft) above sea level. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dujsebayeva, T.; Ananjeva, N.B.; Sattorov, T.; Nazarov, R.; Doronin, I.; Melnikov, D.; Shestopal, A.; Nuridjanov, D.; Tuniyev, B.; Aghasyan, A.; Orlov, N.L.; Tuniyev, S.; Anderson, S.; Shi, L.; Guo, X.; Wang, Y. (2019). "Phrynocephalus mystaceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T157250A744631. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T157250A744631.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Phrynocephalus mystaceus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Whiting, M. J., Noble, D. W. A., & Qi, Y. (2022, May 30). A potential deimatic display revealed in a lizard. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/136/3/455/6595062?login=false
  4. ↑ Solovyeva, E. N., Dunayev, E. N., Nazarov, R. A., Rajabizadeh, M., & Jr., N. A. P. (2018, April 5). Molecular and morphological differentiation of secret toad-headed Agama, phrynocephalus mystaceus, with the description of a new subspecies from Iran (Reptilia, Agamidae). ZooKeys. https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/20507/
  5. ↑ Zheng, P., Liang, T., & Shi, L. (2024, September 30). Are toe fringes important for lizard burying in highly mobile sand? - frontiers in zoology. BioMed Central. https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12983-024-00546-y


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.