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Sauria, Agamidae: Leiolepis-Uromastyx Clade, Keeled Tailed Lizards |
| These lizards have been placed in the Agamidae, and have been considred a subfamily of the the Agamidae (Leiolepinae or Leiolepidinae), and they have been placed in their own family (Leiolepididae). I am going to consider them agamids until further evidence is available. Hondo et al. (2000. Zoological Science 17:527-537) used mtDNA sequences and found them to form a clade (one of five) in the Agamidae, but they represent early branches. Leiolepinids are terrestrial, herbivorous lizards that tend to have medium-sized bodies. Leiolepis are the butterfly lizards of Southeast Asia. They have smooth scales on the body and keeled scales on their tails. They live in sandy soil habitats and run on their hind legs. They have been reported to pick up speed and lift all of their legs off the ground to glide over the surface. Presubably the common name is derived from their bright colors and not their gliding ability. They dig deep burrows. In Thailand local people collect them for food. The Uromastyx are covered with keeled scales and they are particularly large on their tails. About 17 species are currently recognized from the Sahara and Middle East. They tend to hide in rock crevices and thrash their tails about when disturbed. |
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The common butterfly lizard, Leiolepis belliana (Hardwicke and Gray 1827) photographed in a lab in Thailand. Adults may reach a total length of 490 mm, about 165 mm in body length. It occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, and Sumatra.
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This lizard is most likely the Ornate Dabb Lizard, Uromastyx ornata Heyden, 1827. The animal in the photograph was captive bred. Uromastyx ornata ranges from the southern Sinai to the mountains of western Arabia. It seems to avoid extremely arid conditions and is often associated with Acacia trees below 1000 m in altitude. It reaches a total length of 385 mm.
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