| Uromastyx aegyptia | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Uromastyx |
| Species: | U. aegyptia |
| Binomial name | |
| Uromastyx aegyptia (Forskål, 1775) | |
| Synonyms | |
Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to North Africa and the Middle East. [1]
Common names for U. aegyptia include Egyptian mastigure, [3] Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard, [1] and, when referring to the subspecies Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni (see below), Leptien's mastigure. [3]
U. aegyptia is one of the largest members of its genus, with an average total length (including tail) of 76 cm (30 in) for males.[ citation needed ]
U. aegyptia can be found in Egypt east of the Nile, [1] [4] Israel, Syria, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Iran. It has a patchy distribution and is rare in most parts of its range. It is believed to be in decline because of habitat loss and over-harvesting. [1]
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [3]
The subspecific name, leptieni, is in honor of German herpetologist Rolf Leptien. [5]
U. aegyptia is locally known as dhab or ḍabb (Arabic : ضب). Its strong skin made good leather for the bedouins, while its meat was often considered as an alternative source of protein. [6]
U. aegyptia lives in open, flat, gravelly, stony, and rocky areas at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. [1]
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