Uromastyx | 台北市立動物園資訊網

UromastyxisagenusofAfricanandAsianagamidlizards,thememberspeciesofwhicharecommonlycalledspiny-tailedlizards,uromastyces,mastigures, ...

Genus of lizards

Uromastyx is a genus of African and Middle East or West Asian lizards in the family Agamidae. Member species are commonly called spiny-tailed lizards, uromastyces, mastigures, or dabb lizards. Lizards in the genus Uromastyx are primarily herbivorous, but occasionally eat insects and other small animals, especially young lizards. They spend most of their waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at night time or when danger appears. They tend to establish themselves in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation.

The generic name Uromastyx is derived from the Ancient Greek words ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and -mastix (μάστιξ) meaning "whip" or "scourge", after the thick-spiked tail characteristic of all Uromastyx species.[2]

The following species are in the genus Uromastyx.[3] Three additional species were formerly placed in this genus, but have been moved to their own genus, Saara.[3][4]