Spiny-tailed Lizard or Dabb Lizard (Uromastyx) - Wildlife (24 Aug 13)
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to view, comment, and fave my photo. Take care and have a lovely day!
While I was driving in the desert heading back to this Masirah Island where I work, saw this Lizard on a top of a large bush. Quickly returned back to the spot to capture this very rare lizard, then it started running away from me. It opened its mouth to scare me, didn’t want to take a chance as I did not know about its behavior. But I managed to get few shots.
Taken some 30km away from Sinaw town towards Shanna, Oman, in 2008.
Spiny-tailed Lizards 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.
Their size ranges from 25 cm (10 in) to 91 cm (36 in) or more. Hatchlings or neonates are usually no more than 7–10 cm (3–4 in) in length. Like many reptiles, these lizards' colors change according to the temperature; during cool weather they appear dull and dark but the colors become lighter in warm weather, especially when basking; the darker pigmentation allows their skin to absorb sunlight more effectively.
Their spiked tail is muscular and heavy, and can be swung at an attacker with great velocity, usually accompanied by hissing and an open-mouthed display of (small) teeth. They generally sleep in their burrows with their tails closest to the opening, in order to thwart intruders.
A female lizard can lay anywhere from 5 to 40 eggs, depending on age and species.
Spiny-tailed Lizard or Dabb Lizard (Uromastyx) - Wildlife (24 Aug 13)
Thanks to everyone who takes the time to view, comment, and fave my photo. Take care and have a lovely day!
While I was driving in the desert heading back to this Masirah Island where I work, saw this Lizard on a top of a large bush. Quickly returned back to the spot to capture this very rare lizard, then it started running away from me. It opened its mouth to scare me, didn’t want to take a chance as I did not know about its behavior. But I managed to get few shots.
Taken some 30km away from Sinaw town towards Shanna, Oman, in 2008.
Spiny-tailed Lizards 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.
Their size ranges from 25 cm (10 in) to 91 cm (36 in) or more. Hatchlings or neonates are usually no more than 7–10 cm (3–4 in) in length. Like many reptiles, these lizards' colors change according to the temperature; during cool weather they appear dull and dark but the colors become lighter in warm weather, especially when basking; the darker pigmentation allows their skin to absorb sunlight more effectively.
Their spiked tail is muscular and heavy, and can be swung at an attacker with great velocity, usually accompanied by hissing and an open-mouthed display of (small) teeth. They generally sleep in their burrows with their tails closest to the opening, in order to thwart intruders.
A female lizard can lay anywhere from 5 to 40 eggs, depending on age and species.