Agama planiceps

The Namib rock agama (Agama planiceps) is a species of agamid lizard that is native to granite rocky outcrops in northwestern Namibia and southwestern Angola.

Namib rock agama
Male
Female
Damaraland, Namibia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Iguania
Family: Agamidae
Genus: Agama
Species:
A. planiceps
Binomial name
Agama planiceps
W. Peters, 1862
female

Range

They occur in Benguela and Namibe provinces of Angola, and in Damaraland and the Kaokoveld region of Namibia.[1]

Description

They exhibit a striking sexual dimorphism,[1] with males in contrasting orange and blue colours, and the females dappled and checkered in brown, grey and yellow.

Behaviour

In summer, males court females by running in circles around them while head-bobbing.[2]

Predation

The black mongoose also occurs in isolated granite kopjes of this region, and is a known predator of these agamas. The mongooses are most successful during early mornings on cold days when the agamas are less mobile.[3] Other predators include hornbills and rock kestrels. Up to 30% of the adult agamas may have broken tails.[3]

References
  1. Hallermann, Jacob; Uetz, Peter. "Agama planiceps PETERS, 1862". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  2. Carter, A. J.; Goldizen, A. W.; Tromp, S. A. (8 April 2010). "Agamas exhibit behavioral syndromes: bolder males bask and feed more but may suffer higher predation". Behavioral Ecology. 21 (3): 655–661. doi:10.1093/beheco/arq036. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  3. Cowley, T.; Cunningham, P. (2004). "Agama planiceps PETERS, 1862 as prey item for Black Mongoose Galerella (sanguinea) nigrata [Short Note]" (PDF). Herpetozoa. 17 (1/2): 86. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
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