Taylor’s Shield-Tailed Agama

ANIMAL:
Taylor’s Shield-Tailed Agama Xenagama taylori

Type of Animal:
Agamid

Habitat:
Arid sandy/rocky areas, arid flat areas, arid hilly landscapes, desert, dry open woodland w/ sparse ground cover of grass/low herbage, flat semidesert, scrubland

Location(s):
E Ethiopia & NW Somalia

Appearance:
Small short sandy-beige lizard w/ dark mottling & clear throat (male throat turns blue when displaying), short spiny round shield-like tail w/ thin tip

Food/Diet:
Insects, insect larvae, greens, vegetables, berries, fruit, grasses, plant matter

Status in Wild:
Stable

Conservation:
Breeding in zoos, wildlife centers, & herpetoculture

Lifestyle:
Harems of a male & 3-5 females. Other males solitary.

Additional Info:

Called:
Male
Female
Young: Hatchling
Group: Colony
 
Weight:
Adult: 0.7 oz
Young: 0.11 oz

Gestation:
8-9 weeks 

Life Span:
5 years

Body Length:
Adult: 3.93 in
Young: 1 in

Tail Length:
0.07 in

Also known as Taylor’s Strange Agama, Dwarf Shield-Tailed Agama, & Turnip-Tailed Agama.
 
They’re excellent diggers.
 
Females lay 5-11 eggs per clutch up to 4 times a year.
 
Sexually mature at a year old.
 
Active during the day (diurnal).
 
Color helps it blend in w/ sand.
 
Due to remote area they’re from, not much is known about these lizards.

Fun Fact(s):
Named after British army officer Captain R.H.R. Taylor.
 
Uses spiny tail to block burrows at night. Tail effective deterrent to potential predators.
 
They’re fairly personable lizards & make decent pets.
 
Rather uncommon in captivity.

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