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Uromastyx aegyptia
Species of lizard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is native to North Africa and the Middle East.[1]
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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 its genus, with an average total length (including tail) of 76 cm (30 in) for males.[citation needed]
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
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
Further reading
External links
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