Uromastyx

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Uromastyx [1]
Uromastyx aegyptia 2.jpg
Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard ( Uromastyx aegyptia )
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Uromasticinae
Genus: Uromastyx
Merrem, 1820
Species

See text

Synonyms

Jeddaherdan

Uromastyx is a genus of African and Asian lizards in the family Agamidae. Member species are commonly called spiny-tailed lizards, uromastyces, mastigures, or dabb lizards. Lizards in the genus Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects and other small animals, especially young lizards. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at daytime or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation.

Contents

Taxonomy

The generic name Uromastyx is derived from the Ancient Greek words ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and -mastix  (μάστιξ) meaning "whip" or "scourge", after the thick-spiked tail characteristic of all Uromastyx species. [2]

Species

The following species are in the genus Uromastyx. [3] Three additional species were formerly placed in this genus, but have been moved to their own genus, Saara . [3] [4]

ImageScientific NameCommon NameDistribution
Isats arantzatsuko muskerra.jpg Uromastyx acanthinura
Bell, 1825		North African mastigure, North African spiny-tailed lizardMorocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Western Sahara, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Sudan
Uromastyx aegyptia.jpg Uromastyx aegyptia
(Forskål, 1775)		Egyptian mastigure, Egyptian spiny-tailed lizardEgypt and the Middle East.
Uromastyx alfredschmidti
Wilms & Böhme, 2001		ebony mastigure, Schmidt's mastigure, Schmidt's spiny-tailed lizardAlgeria and Libya.
Uromastyx benti 118156282.jpg Uromastyx benti
(J. Anderson, 1894)		Bent's mastigure, Yemeni spiny-tailed lizardOman and Yemen.
Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata 12886850.jpg Uromastyx dispar
Heyden, 1827		Sudan mastigureMauritania, Sudan, Chad, Western Sahara, Algeria, and Mali.
Blumengarten Hirschstetten 2016-02-21 Dornschwanzagame (Uromastyx geyri) c.jpg Uromastyx geyri
(L. Müller, 1922)		Geyr's dabb lizard, Geyr's spiny-tailed lizard, Sahara mastigure, Saharan spiny-tailed lizard, Saharan yellow uromastyx, yellow Niger uromastyxAlgeria, Mali, and Niger.
Uromastyx macfadyeni
H. Parker, 1932		 Macfadyen's mastigure [5] Somalia
Uromastyx nigriventris - Uromastyx acanthinurus nigriventris - Menagerie Paris 05.JPG Uromastyx nigriventris
Rothschild & Hartert, 1912		Moroccan spiny-tailed lizardMorocco and Algeria.
Uromastyx occidentalis
Mateo, Geniez, López-Jurado & Bons, 1999		Western Sahara
Uromastyx ocellata at the Denver Zoo-2012 03 12 0717.jpg Uromastyx ocellata
Lichtenstein, 1823		ocellated spinytail, eyed dabb lizard, ocellated uromastyxsouthern Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia (near the Somali border), and northwestern Somalia
Uromastyx ocellata qtl1.jpg Uromastyx ornata
Heyden, 1827		ornate mastigureEgypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen
Agamidae - Uromastyx princeps.JPG Uromastyx princeps
O’Shaughnessy, 1880		princely spiny-tailed lizard, princely mastigure, Somalian mastigureSomalia, Ethiopia
Uromastyx shobraki
Wilms & Schmitz, 2007		Yemen
Berlin Zoo 02.jpg Uromastyx thomasi
H. Parker, 1930		Omani spiny-tailed lizard, Thomas's mastigureOman
Uromastyx yemenensis
Wilms & Schmitz, 2007		South Arabian spiny-tailed lizardYemen

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

Description

Uromastyx species range in size from 25 cm (10 in) for U. macfadyeni to 91 cm (36 in) or more for U. aegyptia . Hatchlings or neonates are usually no more than 7–10 cm (3–4 in) in length.[ citation needed ] Like many reptiles, these lizards' colors change according to the temperature and season. [6] During cool weather they appear dull and dark, but the colors become lighter in warm weather, especially when basking. The darker pigmentation allows their skin to absorb sunlight more effectively.

Their spiked tail is muscular and heavy, and is able to be swung at an attacker with great velocity, usually accompanied by hissing and an open-mouthed display of (small) teeth. [7] Uromastyx generally sleep in their burrows with their tails closest to the opening, in order to thwart intruders. [7]

Distribution

Uromastyx inhabit a range stretching through most of North and Northeast Africa, the Middle East, ranging as far east as Iran. Species found further east are now placed in the genus Saara . [4] Uromastyx occur at elevations from sea level to well over 900 m (3,000 ft). They are regularly eaten, and sold in produce markets, by local peoples.

Diet

Uromastyx lizards acquire most of the water they need from the vegetation they ingest.[ citation needed ] In the wild they generally eat any surrounding vegetation. When hatching, baby Uromastyx eat their own mother's feces as their first meal before heading off to find a more sustainable food source. They do this to establish a proper gut flora, essential for digesting the plants that they eat.

In the wild, adult U. dispar maliensis have been reported to eat insects at certain times of the year, when it is hot and their only food source available would be insects.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction

A female Uromastyx can lay anywhere from 5 to 40 eggs, depending on age and species. Eggs are laid approximately 30 days following copulation with an incubation time of 70–80 days. [8] The neonates weigh 4–6 g (0.14–0.21 oz) and are about 5 cm (2 in) snout to vent length. [8] They rapidly gain weight during the first few weeks following hatching. [8]

A field study in Algeria concluded that Moroccan spiny-tailed lizards add approximately 5 cm (2 in) of total growth each year until around the age of 8–9 years. [8]

Wild female Uromastyx are smaller and less colorful than males. For example, U. dispar maliensis females are often light tan with black dorsal spots, while males are mostly bright yellow with mottled black markings. Females also tend to have shorter claws.[ citation needed ] In captivity female U. dispar maliensis tend to mimic males in color. [9] U. dispar maliensis are, therefore, reputably difficult to breed in captivity.

Relationship with humans

Pair of captive uromastyx Pair of captive uromastyx.png
Pair of captive uromastyx

Captivity

Uromastyx are removed from the wild in an unregulated manner for the pet and medicinal trade in Morocco, despite their protected status in the country; conditions of the animals while being sold is often extremely poor and overcrowding is common. [10] Historically, captive Uromastyx had a poor survival rate, due to a lack of understanding of their dietary and environmental needs.[ citation needed ] In recent years, knowledge has significantly increased, and appropriate diet and care has led to survival rates and longevity approaching and perhaps surpassing those in the wild.[ citation needed ] With good care, they are capable of living for over 25 years, and possibly as old as 60.

Consumption by humans

U. dispar maliensis, known as "ḍabb" (Arabic : ضَـبْ) by peninsular Arabs, is historically consumed as food by some of the Bedouin population of the Arabian peninsula, mainly those residing in the interior and eastern regions of Arabia. [11] [12] [13] [14] This lizard used to be considered an "Arabian delicacy". [15] It is recorded that when an Uromastyx was brought to the Islamic prophet Muhammad by Bedouins, Muhammad did not eat the lizard, but Muslims were not prohibited by him from consuming it; thus Muhammad's companion Khalid bin Walid consumed the lizard. [16] [17] [18] [19]

In Judaism, this lizard is traditionally identified as the biblical tzav, one of the eight "creeping" animals forbidden for consumption that impart ritual impurity. The Torah states: “The following shall be impure for you among the creeping animals that swarm upon the earth: The weasel, and the mouse, and the dab lizard (tzav) of every variety; and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the skink, and the chameleon” (Leviticus 11:29-30). [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

Islamic dietary laws are laws that Muslims follow in their diet. Islamic jurisprudence specifies which foods are halal and which are haram. The dietary laws are found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, as well as in collections of traditions attributed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agamidae</span> Family of lizards

Agamidae is a family of over 550 species of iguanian lizards indigenous to Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorny devil</span> Species of lizard

The thorny devil, also known commonly as the mountain devil, thorny lizard, thorny dragon, and moloch, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Australia. It is the sole species in the genus Moloch. It grows up to 21 cm (8.3 in) in total length, with females generally larger than males.

<i>Saara hardwickii</i> Species of lizard

Saara hardwickii, commonly known as Hardwicke's spiny-tailed lizard or the Indian spiny-tailed lizard is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is found in patches across the Thar desert, Kutch, and surrounding arid zones in India and Pakistan. It is mainly herbivorous and lives in numbers in some areas. Since it is found in loose clusters it often attracts predators such as raptors. It is also hunted by local peoples in the belief that the fat extracted from it is an aphrodisiac.

<i>Uromastyx geyri</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx geyri is a species of lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. The species is native to North Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shield-tailed agama</span> Species of lizard

The shield-tailed agama, also known commonly as the dwarf shield-tailed agama, Taylor's strange agama, and the turnip-tailed agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Horn of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyd's forest dragon</span> Species of lizard

Boyd's forest dragon is a species of arboreal lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to rainforests and their margins in the Wet Tropics region of northern Queensland, Australia. It is the larger of the two species of Lophosaurus found in Australia. Another species, the southern angle-headed dragon, L. spinipes, is found in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.

<i>Uromastyx alfredschmidti</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx alfredschmidti, commonly known as the ebony mastigure, Schmidt's mastigure, or Schmidt's spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is indigenous to North Africa.

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

The common agama, red-headed rock agama or rainbow agama is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae found in most of sub-Saharan Africa. To clear up centuries of historical confusion based on Linnaeus and other authors, Wagner et al. designated a neotype for the species, using a previously described specimen from Cameroon in the collection of the Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig in Bonn. The species name was formerly applied to a paraphyletic collection of taxa ; subsequent mitochondrial DNA analysis of various populations indicates they represent separate species. Consequently, three former subspecies A. a. africana, A. a. boensis, and A. a. mucosoensis are now considered separate species, and A. a. savattieri is considered synonymous with A. africana.

<i>Uromastyx princeps</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx princeps, commonly known as the princely mastigure, princely spiny-tailed lizard, or Somalian mastigure, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae.

<i>Uromastyx aegyptia</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to North Africa and the Middle East.

<i>Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata is a subspecies of spiny-tailed lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. It is found in rocky, arid and desert habitats in North Africa, its range including parts of Algeria, Mali and Niger. While sometimes considered a separate species, other treat it as a subspecies of Uromastyx dispar.

<i>Saara</i> (lizard) Genus of lizards

Saara is a genus of lizards in the subfamily Uromasticinae of the family Agamidae. The genus is endemic to Asia.

<i>Uromastyx ornata</i> Species of lizard

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

Lepidosaur herbivory describes herbivorous lepidosaurs. Living non-avian reptiles form a paraphyletic group that consists of over 9,000 species of crocodiles, turtles, and lepidosaurs. The most diverse group, Lepidosauria, is first known from the Middle Triassic fossils, but likely originated in the Permian. Living lepidosaurs, which include snakes, lizards, and rhynchocephalians, occupy a wide range of environments and niches. The lepidosaurs have many similar anatomical morphology like transverse cloaca, distal tongue, superficial teeth attachment, fused pelvic bones etc. Though widely viewed as obligate carnivores, a small number of lepidosaurs are known to consume plant material. For example, there are roughly 3,300 species of living lizards and approximately 3% of them eat at least some plants. Though the exact definition of herbivory varies significantly between scientists, most define herbivorous lepidosaurs as those that consume plants for approximately 70-90% of its diet.

<i>Uromastyx ocellata</i> Species of African lizard

Uromastyx ocellata is a species of agamid lizard native to northeastern Africa. It is known as the ocellated spinytail, eyed dabb lizard, and ocellated uromastyx.

<i>Saara asmussi</i> Species of lizard

Saara asmussi, also known commonly as the Iranian mastigure and the Persian spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

Xenagama wilmsi, the Wilms' agama, shield-tail agama, or turnip-tail agama, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to the Horn of Africa.

<i>Uromastyx benti</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx benti, also known commonly as Bent's mastigure and the Yemeni spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to the southeastern Arabian Peninsula.

<i>Uromastyx dispar</i> Species of lizard

Uromastyx dispar, the Sudan mastigure, is a species of agamid lizard. It is found in Mauritania, Sudan, Chad, Western Sahara, Algeria, and Mali.

References

  1. ↑ "Uromastyx ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. ↑ "Oxford English Dictionary, uroˈmastix, n." Oxford English Dictionary . Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 Genus Uromastyx at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. 1 2 Wilms TM, Böhme W, Wagner P, Lutzmann N, Schmitz A (2009). "On the Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: Uromastycinae) – Resurrection of the Genus Saara Gray, 1845". Bonner zoologische Beiträge56 (1/2): 55–99.
  5. ↑ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN   978-1-4214-0135-5. (Uromastyx macfdyeni, p. 164).
  6. ↑ Robert, Nigel. "10 Types of Uromastyx Species". MoreReptiles. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  7. 1 2 Capula, Massimo; Behler, John L. (1989). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the World . New York: Simon & Schuster. p.  259. ISBN   0-671-69098-1.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Vernet, Roland; Lemire, Michel; Grenot, Claude J.; Francaz, Jean-Marc (1988). "Ecophysiological comparisons between two large Saharan Lizards, Uromastyx acanthinurus (Agamidae) and Varanus griseus (Varanidae)". Journal of Arid Environments 14:187–200.
  9. ↑ "Deer Fern Farms Mali Uromastyx Page". Deerfernfarms.com. 2009-01-13. Archived from the original on 2009-08-27. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  10. ↑ Bergin, Daniel; Nijman, Vincent (2014-11-04). "Open, Unregulated Trade in Wildlife in Morocco's Markets (PDF Download Available)". Researchgate.net. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  11. ↑ "Hunting 'dabb' in Al-Asyah". Arab News. 2001-04-27. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  12. ↑ "Saudi Aramco World: The Toad-Head from Najd And Other Reptiles". Archive.aramcoworld.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  13. ↑ American Bedu (September 26, 2008). "Don't Know What to Cook? How About Dhub – Traditional Saudi Beudion Dish". American Bedu.
  14. ↑ Usman, Omar (July 10, 2008). "Sunnah of the Dhab Lizard Delicacy". Muslim Matters.
  15. ↑ John P. Rafferty (January 2011). Deserts and Steppes. The Rosen Publishing Group. pp. 55–. ISBN   978-1-61530-317-5.
  16. ↑ "SahihMuslim.Com". SahihMuslim.Com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  17. ↑ IslamKotob (1978). Sahih Muslim: Being Traditions of the Sayings and Doings of the Prophet Muhammad as Narrated by His Companions and Compiled Under the Title Al-Jami'-us-sahih : with Explanatory Notes and Brief Biographical Sketches of Major Narrators. Islamic Books. pp. 1242–. GGKEY:A3373925T9E.
  18. ↑ "Quran / Hadith English Translation - Search Engine". Religeo.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  19. ↑ "Ruling on Different Types of Lizards". ImamFaisal.com. 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  20. ↑ "The Aleph Society- Let My People Know". 18 January 2013.
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