Uromastyx hardwickii
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Category:Uromastyx - DO NOT COMPLETE THE CATEGORY LINK UNTIL THIS PAGE HAS BEEN FILLED OUT COMPLETELY
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Classification
U. hardwickii is better known as Indian Uromastyx. Known locally in the Great Indian Desert as Sanda.
Description
General characteristics.
Colouration
Hardwickis have a rounded head with a flat snout. They are usually yellow-brown, sandy/olive color. Maybe with black spots and vermiculations,and they have distinctive black spot of crainial thigh. Their bodies are dorsal – ventrally flattened, with wrinkled skin on both lateral sides. They have distinct tail whorls, with spiny scales and larger spines on sides. Tail is blue-grey to sand color pending on their regional origians. Males tend to be 40 – 49 cm long, females 34 – 40 cm, snout to vent length. Tails are usually longer with males.
Temperament
In the wild U. hardwickii live in colonies. The substrate in areas in Rajasthan is described as 'plains gravel' and some of the plants are herbs and short grasses (‘thalar’ habitat). In areas affected by monsoon rains burrows are on elevated ground, hills, above the flood line.
Related species
Uromstyx Speices hardwicki, asmussi and locotia (double check spelling) where moved to the new genus Saara since researchers thought they appeared to have more ancestorial features. hardwickis are said to resemble Egyptain Uromastyxs in appearance, and appaerently is thought to be one of the Egyptains ancestors.
Geographical disperion
U.hardwickii come from arid regions between India and Pakistan. Some indicate in Afghanistan aswell. In India they have been reported in 3 biomes: Thar Desert, Northwestern Thorn Scrub Forests, Upper Plains . Reported in 5 out of 15 habitat types in Pakistan: Sub-zones of the Dry sub-tropical, semi-evergreen deciduous scrub forests; Rivrine tracts; Seasonal inundation zones,seepage areas Jheels and Swamps; Tropical thorn forests, lower Indus plain; Mainland of Littoral & intertidal zone & off shore islands.
Sources
- [1]
- [source2 source2]Pakistan J. Zool. Vol 31(3) pg. 275-280, 1999. Article - Herpetology of habitat Types of Pakistan by Muhammad Sharif Khan.
- [source3 source3]globalspecies.org
- [source4 source4]http://hspawar.mywebdunia.com - Blog by Himmat Singh in Oct 2009 Tittled: Uromastyx an Important scheduled animal of The Thar Desert.
- [source5 source5] writings of Faequine based on her own experinces caring for U. hardwickii and years of research into thier kind, to compile future published work. References of which are shared as sources. Enjoy :D
