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.
