Species

From UroWiki

The Uromastyx is a genus of lizard whose members are better-known as Spiny-tailed lizards, uros, mastigures, or Dabb lizards. Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects, especially when young. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at nighttime or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation.

Distribution

Uromastyx inhabit a range stretching through most of North Africa, the Middle East and across south-central Asia and into India. This area spreads across 5000 miles and 30 countries. They occur at elevations from sea level to well over 3000 feet. They are regularly eaten, and sold in produce markets, by local peoples.

Taxonomy

The generic name (uromastyx) is derived from the Ancient Greek words ourá (οὐρά) meaning tail and mastigo (Μαστίχα) meaning whip or scourge, after the thick-spiked tail characteristic of all uromastyx species. It is for this reason that the pronunciation of 'uromastyx' should begin with an "ooh" sound (as in roof), rather than with the "you" (as in euro) sound commonly used.

List of species

Bell's Dabb Lizard – Uromastyx acanthinura	photograph Uromastyx acanthinura
Egyptian Mastigure – Uromastyx aegyptia	photograph Uromastyx aegyptia
Schmidt's Mastigure – Uromastyx alfredschmidti	photograph Uromastyx alfredschmidti
Iranian Mastigure – Uromastyx asmussi	photograph Uromastyx asmussi
Bent's Mastigure – Uromastyx benti	photograph Uromastyx benti
Sudan Mastigure – Uromastyx dispar	photograph Uromastyx dispar
Saharan Spiny-tailed Lizard – Uromastyx geyri	photograph Uromastyx geyri
Hardwick's Spiny-tailed Lizard – Uromastyx hardwickii	photograph Uromastyx hardwickii
Leptien's Mastigure – Uromastyx leptieni	photograph Uromastyx leptieni
Mesopotamian Mastigure – Uromastyx loricata	photograph Uromastyx loricata
Macfadyen's Mastigure – Uromastyx macfadyeni	photograph Uromastyx macfadyeni
Uromastyx occidentalis	photograph Uromastyx occidentalis
Eyed Dabb Lizard – Uromastyx ocellata	photograph Uromastyx ocellata
Ornate Mastigure – Uromastyx ornata	photograph Uromastyx ornata
Princely Mastigure – Uromastyx princeps	photograph Uromastyx princeps
Oman Spiny-tailed Lizard – Uromastyx thomasi	photograph Uromastyx thomasi
Yemen Spiny-tailed Lizard – Uromastyx yemenensis
Malinese (or Mali) Spiny-tailed Lizard – Uromastyx maliensis	photograph Uromastyx maliensis