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 well-developed, strong legs. Their tails cannot be shed and regenerated like those of geckoes, though a certain amount of regeneration is observed in some.[1][2] Many agamid species are capable of limited change of their colors to regulate their body temperature.[3] In some species, males are more brightly colored than females[4] and colors play a part in signaling
and reproductive behaviours.[5] Although agamids generally inhabit warm environments, ranging from hot deserts to tropical rainforests, at least one species, the Mountain Dragon, is found in cooler regions.
This group of lizards includes some more popularly known, such as the domesticated bearded dragon and the uromastyx.
One of the key distinguishing features of the agamids is their teeth, which are borne on the outer rim of the mouth (acrodont), rather than on the inner side of the jaws (pleurodont). This feature is shared with the chameleons, but is otherwise unusual among lizards. Agamid lizards are generally diurnal, with good vision, and include a number of arboreal species, in addition to ground and rock-dwellers. They generally feed on insects and other arthropods (such as spiders), although some larger species may include small reptiles or mammals, nestling birds, flowers or other vegetable
matter in their diets.[6] The great majority of agamid species are oviparous.[7]
Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana from the Agaminae
There have been very few studies of the Agamidae. The first comprehensive assessment was by Moody (1980)[8] followed by a more inclusive assessment by Frost and Etheridge (1989).[9] Subsequent studies were based on mitochondrial DNA loci by Macey et al (2000)[10] and Honda et al (2000)[11] and also by sampling across the Agamidae by Joger (1991)[12]. Few other studies focused on clades within the family, but the Agamidae have not been as well investigated as the Iguanidae.
The agamids show a curious distribution. They are found over much of the Old World, including continental Africa, Australia, Southern Asia and sparsely in warmer regions of Europe. They are however absent from Madagascar and from the New World. The distribution is the opposite of that of the iguanids, who are found in just these areas but absent in areas where agamids are found. A similar faunal divide is found in between the boas and
pythons.[citation needed]
Subfamilies
Among the Agamidae, six subfamilies are generally recognized:[13][verification needed]
Agaminae (Africa, Asia and Australia)
Amphibolurinae (Australia and New Guinea)
Draconinae (South and Southeast Asia)
Hydrosaurinae (Hydrosaurus, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and Indonesia)
Leiolepidinae (Leiolepis, Southeast Asia)
Uromasticinae (Saara and Uromastyx, Africa and south Asia)
The chameleons of the sister family Chamaeleonidae are sometimes discussed as subfamily Chamaeleoninae and subfamily Agaminae (referring to Agamidae, not the Agaminae mentioned above).[citation
needed]
www.springerlink.com/content/a1q636l1641k2m51/. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
^ Cogger, H.G. (1994). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. New South Wales: Reed. ISBN 0-7301-0088-X.
^ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians.
San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 134?136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
^ Moody, S. M. (1980). Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeographical relationships of the genera in the family Agamidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia) (Ph.D. Dissertation). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
Acanthocercus is an African genus of agamid lizards. [more]
Acanthosaura
Acanthosaura is a genus of lizards commonly known as mountain horned dragons, or pricklenape agamas. They are so named because of a row of dorsal spines which run down the back of their neck. They are arboreal lizards that are found in Southeast Asia. They are medium-sized, ranging from about 7? inches up to 15 inches in length, depending on species and individual. They tend to prefer higher elevation areas that are dense with vegetation. [more]
Agama
Agama is a term for scriptures in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism: [more]
The mulga dragon (Caimanops amphiboluroides) is a species of agamid lizard found in Western Australia. It is the sole member of the genus Caimanops; its name is derived from the crocodile-like shape of the jaw. The species is up to 250 mm long, the length from snout to vent is 95 mm, with a long slender tail that ends abruptly. The patterning over the legs and body is grey and brownish streaks. This provides an excellent camouflage on mulga trees, its usual habitat, it is also found beneath mulga leaf litter. Caimanops amphiboluroides generally remains motionless and unobserved, this allows it to operate as an ambush predator and elude animals that would prey on it. [more]
Calotes
Calotes is a lizard genus in the draconine clade of the family Agamidae, containing 24 species. Some species are known as forest lizards, others as "bloodsuckers" due to their red heads, and yet others as (namely C. versicolor) as garden lizards. They are geographically restricted to South Asia, Myanmar, regions of Southeast Asia, and an introduced population in Florida. The greatest diversity of the genus is from the Western Ghats and Northeast (India), Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. [more]
Ceratophora
Ceratophora is a genus of agamid lizards found in Sri Lanka. The males have a horn on their snout. [more]
Chelosania
Chelosania is a genus of that contains a single species, Chelosania brunnea. These are commonly known as the Ring-tailed Dragon or the Australian Chameleon Dragon. [more]
Coryphophylax Blyth 1860, is currently a monotypic agamid genus (Krishnan, 2005), endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A sister lineage to the S.E. Asian Aphaniotis. Found in tropical wet forests, but not in human habitation. Abundant; exhibits island wise size variation and sexual dimorphism. Occurrence is not reported from the Myanmar Andaman Islands (Cocos and Table Islands) due to lack of surveys. The genus is absent on Great Nicobar Island, with its southern most occurrence on the Island of Kondul. Tsunamis of December 2004 would have affected island wise distributions in the Nicobar Islands of several species and also their gene-flow. [more]
Cryptagama
Cryptagama is a monotypic genus within the Agamidae family of . The gravel dragon Cryptagama aurita is the only species in this genus. It lives in the arid regions of Western Australia and the adjacent areas of the Northern Territory [more]
Ctenophorus
Ctenophorus, also known as comb-bearing dragons, is a genus that contains the most diverse group of dragons in Australia. Many of these have been grouped by a similar morphology. The informal names and groupings within this genus ? Rock or Crevice-dragon, Ground, Sand-dragon, and Bicycle-dragon ? are named after the mythological creature, the dragon. [more]
Rock Agamas are lizards of the genus Laudakia (or sometimes Stellio) are a group of agamas found in . [more]
Leiolepis
Leiolepis, commonly known as Butterfly Lizards (Thai: ), are group of agamid lizards of which very little is known. They are native to Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. They are terrestrial lizards and prefer to live in arid, open regions. [more]
Lophognathus is a genus of lizards found in northern Australia, New Guinea, and Tanimbar Islands. The four species are informally described as dragons, as are several genera in the family Agamidae, and closely related to those of Amphibolurus. [more]
Phoxophrys is a within the Agamidae family. [more]
Phrynocephalus
==Genus Phrynocephalus Kaup, 1825 includes about 40 species of small and medium sized agamid lizards which inhabits open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. Systematics of this genus is very complicated. And there are a lot of controversial points of view about unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have been adopted so called "sit and wait" hunting strategy and they are actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia is poorly studied, but that seem to be similar to that of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, Sceloporus in New World, as well as Moloch in Australia. [more]
Pogona are a genus of lizards containing seven species, which are often known by the common name bearded dragons. The term "bearded dragon" is most commonly used to describe the Central Bearded Dragon. Members of this genus live in the arid, rocky, semi-desert regions and dry open woodlands of Australia. They are adept climbers, spending time on branches and in bushes, even found on fence posts when living near human habitation. Pogona bask on rocks and exposed branches in the mornings and afternoons. The species are found throughout Australia. [more]
Psammophilus
Psammophilus is a genus of Agamid lizards found in India. Although the genus name means "sand loving" in Greek, they are found in rocky habitats. [more]
Pseudocalotes
Pseudocalotes was disassociated from Calotes by Moody (1980). Pseudocalotes is distinguished from Calotes in having weak limbs as may be noted in some of the species names brevipes. It is distinguished from the C. versicolor group in having mixed orientation of dorsal scales, and lacking spines on the head. It is distinguished from Bronchocela in lacking a cheek skin fold, and in having short weak limbs. They do not have any enlarged compressed set of scales behind the orbit.Pseudocalotes does not occur west of Sumatra and might occur in the Isthmus of Kra and Myanmar. A specimen was reported from N.E. India in the past though never verified. [more]
The Uromastyx is a genus of lizard whose members are better-known as Spiny-tailed lizards, uromastyxes, mastigures, or dabb lizards. Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects, especially when young. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at daytime or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation. [more]
Uromastyx
The Uromastyx is a genus of lizard whose members are better-known as Spiny-tailed lizards, uromastyxes, mastigures, or dabb lizards. Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects, especially when young. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at daytime or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation. [more]
Xenagama
Xenagama is a of lizards, in the Agamid family. [more]
More info about the Genus Xenagama may be found here.
^ Cogger, H.G. (1994). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia. New South Wales: Reed. ISBN 0-7301-0088-X.
^ Bauer, Aaron M. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 134?136. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.
^ Moody, S. M. (1980). Phylogenetic relationships and historical
biogeographical relationships of the genera in the family Agamidae (Reptilia: Lacertilia) (Ph.D. Dissertation). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.
