Sinai agama

BIG HAIRY WEINER
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Agamidae
Subfamily:	Agaminae
Genus:	Pseudotrapelus
Species:	P. sinaitus
Binomial name
Pseudotrapelus sinaitus (Heyden, 1827)

Female Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, Israel.

The Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus, formerly Agama sinaita) is an agamid lizard. It can be found in arid areas of the following countries: southeastern Libya, eastern Egypt, Israel and Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Saudia Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.

The length of the lizard is up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in), the tail accounting for up to two-thirds of the total length. The limbs and tail are long and thin and allow for good climbing and running capability. Unlike members of the closely related genus Agama, the third (middle) toe is the longest instead of the fourth.

Pseudotrapelus sinaitus is active during daytime and feeds on insects and other arthropods and plants. During the breeding season, males become a striking blue colour in order to attract females. The female adopts brownish-red spots.

References

• W. Kästle, H. H. Schleich and K. Kabisch. Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa: Biology, Systematics, Field Guide. — Koeltz Scientific Books, Germany 1996
• Fitzinger 1843, Syst. Rept., 18, 81
• Heyden, C. H. G. von. 1827. Reptilien. In Rüppell, E. Atlas zu Reise im nördlichen Afrika. l. Zoologie. H. L. Brönner, Frankfurt a. M., pp. 1–24

• "Pseudotrapelus sinaitus". Reptile Database. 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.

External links

Data related to Sinai agama at Wikispecies Media related to Pseudotrapelus sinaitus at Wikimedia Commons