Agama atra
Encyclopedia
The Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) is a species of lizard
from the Agamidae
family
, that occurs in South Africa
. It lives in small colonies on rocky outcrops, and the males are very conspicuous for their bright blue heads.
These active, diurnal lizards normally hunt small insects such as ants and termites. They sometimes adjust to living near urban areas and can even live in rocky gardens. However, the increasingly dense populations of domestic cats being kept as pets in suburban areas have unfortunately led to a decline in population, as these introduced predators
tend to kill all the Agamas in the immediate area. The Agama atras natural predators in the wild include the Fiscal Shrike and various snakes.
Agama atra has some ability to change colour, although not to the same extent as chameleons, of which the agamidae is a sister group. When a male agama in breeding colouration is approached by a potential predator it will lie flat against a rock and lose the intense breeding colours in favour of more cryptic colouration.
The natural range of this species is almost entirely confined to the borders of South Africa
(and Lesotho
).
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
from the Agamidae
Agamidae
Agamids, lizards of the family Agamidae, include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Many species are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, that occurs in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It lives in small colonies on rocky outcrops, and the males are very conspicuous for their bright blue heads.
Description
This rather sociable Agama is normally found in small groups or colonies. It grows up to about 25 cm and has a thin dorsal crest that runs the length of its body. It typically has a short, plump body and a thin tail, with a triangular head. During the breeding season the heads of the males become bright blue. The males also take to sitting on top of prominent rocks and are therefore a common sight in mountainous areas of South Africa. The females and young are a more uniform greyish-brown and are much more shy.These active, diurnal lizards normally hunt small insects such as ants and termites. They sometimes adjust to living near urban areas and can even live in rocky gardens. However, the increasingly dense populations of domestic cats being kept as pets in suburban areas have unfortunately led to a decline in population, as these introduced predators
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
tend to kill all the Agamas in the immediate area. The Agama atras natural predators in the wild include the Fiscal Shrike and various snakes.
Agama atra has some ability to change colour, although not to the same extent as chameleons, of which the agamidae is a sister group. When a male agama in breeding colouration is approached by a potential predator it will lie flat against a rock and lose the intense breeding colours in favour of more cryptic colouration.
| A male Agama atra on the left and the same individual on the right a few minutes later with diminished breeding colouration. |
The natural range of this species is almost entirely confined to the borders of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(and Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
).