Added 11 July 2022.
The genus Saara contains three species that were formerly assigned to the genus Uromastyx. Saara was proposed as a genus by Gray in 1845 and recently resurrected.
Gray listed the characteristics of the genus as follows: head very short, broad, much arched; body depressed, with a fold on each side of the back; scales minute, equal; tail short, broad, depressed; upper part with cross bands of compressed, conical scales, separated by other rings of granular and smooth square scales; beneath covered with square, smooth, imbricate scales; femoral pores distinct (GRAY 1845). To this description, Wilms et al added the following diagnosis: acrodont dentition, with the premaxillary bone forming in adult specimens a sharp, tooth-like structure replacing the incisive teeth; tail scalation arranged in distinct whorls, which are separated by 1β6 rows of intercalary scales dorsally.
For more information, see the Uromastyx page, including the Bibliography.
|
QUICK INDEX |
||
|
S. asmussi, Iranian Mastigure |
S. hardwicki, Hardwick's Spiny-Tailed Lizard |
S. loricata , Iraqi Mastigure |
|
Scientific Name |
Common Name |
Distribution |
Size |
Notes |
|
Saara |
||||
|
S. asmussi |
Iranian Mastigure, Persian Spiny-Tailed Lizard |
S Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan |
20" |
Found in high plains, where it digs burrows up to 4ft long and 2ft deep. Scalation: front of ear opening has strongly denticulated scales; many scaly tubercles on loose skin of nape and sides of neck; large rounded spiny tubercles in regular rows across sides and extending onto back; 6-7 femoral pores and 2-3 preanal pores on each side. Coloration: in males, dorsally greenish-brown; tubercles may be red [SOURCE: Walls] |
|
S. hardwicki |
Hardwick's Spiny-Tailed Lizard, Indian Spiny-Tailed Lizard |
India, Pakistan |
18" |
Widely distributed species living in colonies of 50-100 animals with fairly extensive burrows. They are exploited for food by local people but are no longer readily available to the pet trade. They are very much a herbivorous species. In nature they tend to brumate from November to February. Scalation: 34-36 rows of enlarged spiny scales along tail, each row separated by a few rows of very much smaller scales; anterior denticulated scales on ear opening; 15-18 femoral and preanal pores on each side of the body. Coloration: dorsally sand coloured, may be marked with dark brown spots or dense network of brown lines and mottling; belly and throat white; large bluish-black spot on face of each thigh in the groin. Juveniles are darker with many blackish spots which are so dense laterally that they may form 1-2 dark stripes: irregular white mottling may be present on head and shoulders. Reproduction: mating season is late February to April: clutches consisting of 8-14 eggs are laid late April to June. Incubation takes place in a chamber off the main burrow. The hatchlings leave the burrow from late June to July. [SOURCE: Walls]. |
|
S. loricata |
Iraqi Spiny-Tail, Iraqi Spiny-Tailed Lizard |
Iraq and Iran |
Found in high plains, where they dig burrows up to 4ft long in hard rocky soil. Similar in appearance to S. asmussi. This species is active from late morning to early afternoon at temperatures of up to 112 deg F: any higher temperature, however, leads to distress. Scalation: front of ear opening has smooth scales; scaly tubercles on loose skin of nape and sides of neck; large rounded spiny tubercles in irregular rows across sides and extending onto back; smaller ventral scales than S. asmussi; 12-13 femoral pores and 3-4 preanal pores on each side. Coloration: dorsally pale, yellowish to cream with brown spots; round yellow spots may be present; ventrally pale, two brown stripes across the belly may be present; warm specimens become pale, almost white, with orange accents. [SOURCE: Walls] |
|
Basic Care of Uromastyx, Philippe deVosjoli, Advanced Herpetocultural Library, 1999. This guide does not cover all the species of Uromastyx, but does cover those most commonly imported into the pet trade, namely U. acanthinura, U. aegyptius and U. ornatus. There is a particularly useful section on diet regime and various ailments commonly encountered. The author also stresses the importance of captive breeding these animals before the sources of importation dry up: ranching and breeding them in their country of origin is also suggested.
Uromastyx and Butterfly Agamids, Jerry G Walls, TFH 1996. Probably the most readily available guide to Uromastyx and the other genus in their subfamily, Leiolepis. Although I have had reservations about some TFH books, Walls is a good writer, and this one seems to be fairly sound: however, it may be a good idea to check other sources as well. Contains information on each species of Uromastyx, including the success or otherwise of their keeping in captivity.
Agamid Lizards, Ulrich Manthey and Norbert Schuster, TFH 1996 (originally published in German, 1992, as Agamen). Best English language guide that I have so far encountered for agamids, gives details of genera and individual species.Contains useful if brief data on the genus and on the natural history, coloration and husbandry of S. hardwicki. It also gives suggestions on the housing and offering the appropriate foods according to the season that would be encountered in the creatures' natural range.
βOn the Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: Uromastycinae) β Resurrection of the Genus Saara Gray, 1845β, Thomas M Wilms, Wolfgang Boehme, Philipp Wagner, Nicola Lutzmann and Andreas Schmitz
Dornschwanzagamen: Lebensweise, Pflege und Zucht [Spiny-tail Agamas: Natural History, Care, and Breeding], Revised edition. T Wilms, Herpeton-Verlag, Offenbach, 142 p, 2001. I have not read this personally (yet) myself, but it has been highly recommended by www.herplit.com. German herpetological books are normally fairly thorough in any case. If anyone has any feedback on this book I would like to hear from you.
"Uromastyx - a little-known genus?", Conrad Ensenyat, Reptilia 8. Useful introduction to the genus, including the different subgroups and also EU import data from the mid-80s to end of the 90s.
www.kingsnake.com/uromastyx/ - the Uromastyx Home Page.
.
Agamid Lizards | Lizards | Reptiles | Herpetology | Home Page