Uromastyx acanthinura
From UroWiki
Contents |
Classification
The species of U. acanthinura is divided into two subspecies, U. acanthinura acanthinura and U. acanthinura nigriventris, the former being the most commonly kept.
They are also known as Bell's Dabb Lizard, Black Spiny-tailed Lizard, Dabb's Mastigure, and North African Spiny-tailed Lizard in general in reference to "U. acanthinura".
In some countries exports of U. dispar, U. geyri or in some cases U. alfredschmidti may be missidentified as U.acantinura.
Conservation Status
For the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCNa, in prep.) they were accepted as Near Threatened. This is due to their declining numbers in relation to unsuitable food availability, medicine and global pet trades, and degradation of their habitat making them close qualifiers for Vulnerable under Criteria A2cd (IUCNb, in prep.). They are a protected species in Morocco and a few other North African countries. Along with other Uromastyx that were listed in CITES Appendix II in 1977.
Geographical Dispersion
U. acanthinura nigriventris is native to dessert habitats in Northern Africa, including Morocco, Northern parts of: Algeria and Western Sahara, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, and Tunisia.
Habitat Description
It has been reported that acanthinura come from a variety of desert landscapes. Humidity is usually less than 30% with sporadic rainfall, measured to be less than five centimeters per year. Areas can have rocky slopes in mountain valleys with riverbeds and oases (often only seasonally wet and with higher humidity), cultivated fields and areas with dense vegetation. Most records are from areas below 1,000 m altitude, although the species has apparently been reported at altitudes of up to 2,000 m in Algeria.
Behavior in Nature
They are lazy creatures with individuals occupying their own home ranges. They don't seem move much between food patches. Their burrows can be four meters or more in long which are quickly retreated into at the first sign of a predator. In some areas they evidently become largely or entirely inactive in winter.
U.acanthinurus apparently reach sexually maturity around four years of age with the average clutch size being between 8 - 23 eggs, which are laid in the female’s burrow. Hatching occurs after a incubation period of 8-10 weeks. Neonates stay within the burrow system for several weeks to months before leaving. Wild-caught adults have a reported life span of 20 years in captivity, but can reach 25 years or more.
Coloration
The biggest difference between the subspecies is the bright colors of the U. a. nigriventris compared to the dull colors of U. a. acanthinura subspecies.
Description
Uromastyx acanthinura is a medium sized lizard. They appear to be entirely or very largely herbivorous as adults; juveniles (in captivity at least), feed enthusiastically on insects and other invertebrates if offered.
Sources
AC22 Doc. 10.2, Annex 6a, pgs 58-62.
