Agamas

From Freepedia

Also see the Hindu Agamas.

Agamas

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Agamidae

Genera

Many: see text

Agamas or Agamids are the Agamidae family of lizards, containing more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. They are very similar to the American sister group of iguanas. Agamas are active during the day. Many species are perfectly adapted to a life in hot deserts, while others live in the trees of tropical rainforests.

Agamas have well-developed, strong legs. Their tails can't be shed and regenerated like those of some other lizard groups. Some agama species are able to change their colours.

The hardun (Laudakia stellio, formerly Agama stellio), or sling-tailed agama is distributed in West Asia, Egypt, Cyprus and many Greek islands (e.g. Rhodes, Corfu). This lizard is quite common, and can frequently be seen sitting on walls.

Another species is the red-headed rock agama (Agama agama), a widespread lizard in sub-Saharan Africa. Its original habitat is the savanna, but today it also lives within villages and towns. These agamas form groups of ten to twenty. The "leader" is an old male, while females and young males constitute the other members of the group. The colour is dark brown at night, but after dawn the colours of the dominant male will change: the body becomes light blue, head and tail bright orange. These colours may change again dependending on the dominant male's mood. For instance, if the male agamas fight, their head will become brown, and white spots appear on their body. Fights take place when a male not belonging to the group appears. It will try to dispute the leadership of the dominant male. When fighting, agamas hiss and try to hit each other's head with their tail. These strokes may be very violent and often result in haematomas or fractured jaws.
The females in the group are entirely brown. Often there is a highest-ranking female, that remains close to the leading male and tries to drive away other females.

Other species of interest: bearded dragon, flying lizard.