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Reptile and Amphibian Encyclopedia >
Lizards > Agamid Lizards
Agamid Lizards
An agama is any one of the various small, long-tailed, insect-eating lizards of the genus Agama. The
agamid genus is composed of at least 37 species across Africa, where they are the most common lizard. They can be found in many sizes,
from 12.5 to 30 cm (5 in. to 1 ft.) in length and a wide variety of colours. One of the best known species is the Red-headed Rock
Agama (Agama agama), widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. For Eurasian agamas, see the genus Laudakia.
Agamas originally lived in forest and bush across Africa, but have since adapted to live in villages and compounds where their
habitat has been cleared. They live inside the thatch of huts and other small spaces, emerging only to feed. If caught out in
the open, agamas are able to run quickly on their hind legs to reach shelter. The desert agama can still be found in the dry
areas of North Africa. Despite their name, they avoid bare sand.
Agamas are active during the day and are often found scampering around to snatch up their favorite foods. They can tolerate
greater temperatures than most reptiles, but in the afternoon when temperatures reach around 38°C (100°F) they will settle into
the shade and wait for it to cool. Frequent fighting breaks out between males; such fighting involves a lot of bobbing and weaving
in an attempt to scare the opponent. If it comes to blows, they lash out with their tails and threaten each other with open jaws.
Many older males have broken tails as a result of such fights. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, while hatchlings
mimic the adults in preparation for their future.
Agamas are mainly insectivores. Their incisor-like front teeth are designed for quick cutting and chewing of their prey. They may
also eat grass, berries, seeds and even the eggs of smaller lizards.
- Agama aculeata (Merrem, 1820) – Ground Agama
- Agama agama (Linnaeus, 1758) – Red-headed Rock Agama, Common Agama, Rainbow Agama
- Agama anchietae (Bocage, 1896) – Western Rock Agama, Anchieta's Agama
- Agama armata (Peters, 1855) – Tropical Spiny Agama
- Agama atra (Daudin, 1802) – Southern Rock Agama
- Agama bocourti (Rochebrune, 1884) – Bocourt's Agama
- Agama bottegi (Boulenger, 1897) – Somali Agama
- Agama boueti (Chabanaud, 1917) – Mali Agama
- Agama boulengeri (Lataste, 1886) – Boulenger's Agama
- Agama castroviejoi (Padial, 2005) – Mauritania Agama
- Agama caudospinosa (Meek, 1910) – Elmenteita Rock Agama
- Agama cornii (Scortecci, 1928) – Scortecci's Agama
- Agama doriae (Boulenger, 1885) – Nigeria Agama
- Kenyan Rock Agama (Agama lionotus), male on a wall in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya
- Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama (Agama mwanzae), male, Serengeti, Tanzania
- Agama etoshae (McLachan, 1981) – Etosha Agama
- Agama finchi (Böhme, Wagner, Malonza, Lötters & Köhler, 2005) – Finch's Agama or Malaba Rock Agama
- Agama gracilimembris (Chabanaud, 1918) – Benin Agama
- Agama hartmanni (Peters, 1869) – Hartmann's Agama
- Agama hispida (Kaup, 1827) – Common Spiny Agama
- Agama impalearis (Boettger, 1874) – Bibron's Agama
- Agama insularis (Chabanaud, 1918) – Insular Agama
- Agama kaimosae (Loveridge, 1935)
- Agama kirkii (Boulenger, 1885) – Kirk's Rock Agama
- Agama lionotus (Boulenger, 1896) – Kenyan Rock Agama
- Agama mehelyi (Tornier, 1902) – Mehely's Agama
- Agama montana (Barbour & Loveridge, 1828) – Montane (Rock) Agama
- Agama mossambica (Peters, 1854) – Mozambique Agama
- Agama mwanzae (Loveridge, 1923) – Mwanza Flat-headed Agama
- Agama paragama (Grandison, 1968) – False Agama
- Agama persimilis (Parker 1942) – Somali Painted Agama, Similar Agama
- Agama planiceps (Peters, 1862) – Namib Rock Agama
- Agama robecchii (Boulenger, 1892) – Robecchi's Agama
- Agama rueppelli or Agama ruppelli (Vaillant, 1882) – Rüppell's Agama, Arboreal Agama
- Agama sankaranica (Chabanaud, 1918) – Senegal Agama
- Agama spinosa (Gray, 1831) – Lanza's Spiny Agama
- Agama sylvana (Macdonald, 1981)
- Agama turuensis (Loveridge, 1896)
- Agama weidholzi (Wettstein, 1932) – Gambia Agama
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