The genus Bufoniceps contains the single species B. laungwalensis, formerly considered part of the genus Phrynocephalus. Arnold ascribed it to the new genus after noting certain dissimilarities with Phrynocephalus, viz: scleral ossicles not reduced in number to 10-11; external ear opening present; tail not habitually raised and curled, and distinctly short.
This is a desert lizard found only in Rajasthan State, India. I have not come across any articles on the species being kept in captivity or seen any offered for sale. A tentative suggestion could be made that captive conditions (assuming import and captivity of the species is legal!) might be similar to those for Phrynocephalus species.
| Species Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Bufoniceps | ||||
| B. laungwalensis | Toad-Headed Dragon | India (W Rajasthan State) | SVL 7 cm | Desert dwelling species that burrows into sand but does not create burrows. Diet is a variety of insects and lizards (the latter presumably smaller than itself). Scalation details: overall small and uniform. Tail: shorter than body. Other: digits fringed with flat, pointed scales; ear opening very small, tympanum deeply set; nostrils close together on top of short snout; no dewlap, crest or other typical agamid ornamentation; no femoral or preanal pores. Coloration: Dorsally grey with orange, red, black and white spots; dark vertebral stripe may be present. Reproduction: no details available. |
JSTOR has a link to the beginning and abstract of E N Arnold's paper in the Journal of Herpetology Vol 26 No 4, 1992.