Uromastyx aegyptia

Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to North Africa and the Middle East.[1]

Uromastyx aegyptia
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Uromastyx
Species:
U. aegyptia
Binomial name
Uromastyx aegyptia
(Forskål, 1775)
Synonyms

Common names

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]

Description

U. aegyptia is one of the largest members of the genus, with average lengths of 76 cm (30 in) for males.

Geographic range and conservation status

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]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]

  • Uromastyx aegyptia aegyptia (Forskål, 1775)
  • Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni Wilms & Böhme, 2000
  • Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis Blanford, 1874
Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni

Etymology

The subspecific name, leptieni, is in honor of German herpetologist Rolf Leptien.[5]

Economic use

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]

Habitat

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]

References
  1. Wilms, T. [in German]; Eid, E.K.A.; Al Johany, A.M.H; Amr, Z.S.S.; Els, J.; Baha El Din, S. [in German]; Disi, A.M.; Sharifi, M.; Papenfuss, T.; Shafiei Bafti, S.; Werner, Y.L. (2017) [errata version of 2012 assessment]. "Uromastyx aegyptia ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T164729A115304711. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T164729A1071308.en. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  3. Uromastyx aegyptia at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 February 2022.
  4. Baha el Din, Sherif (2006). A Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Egypt. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. ISBN 978-9774249792.
  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 leptieni, p. 155).
  6. Ghose, Tia (2014-03-05). "Leapin' Lizards! Medieval Arabs Ate the Scaly Creatures". LiveScience.com. Retrieved 2015-04-20.

Further reading
  • Forskål P (1775). Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium; quæ in Itinere Orientali Observit. Copenhagen: Möller. 164 pp. (Lacerta ægyptia, new species, p. 13). (in Latin).
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