Vivariums;reptiles;Agamid;Phrynocephalus

Video :

Phrynocephalus ( toad head agama ) :

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 44 species of small and medium-sized agamid lizards, commonly called toadhead agamas or toad-headed agamas, that inhabit open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. The systematics of this genus are very complicated with many controversial points of view about the unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have adopted the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy and they actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general, the ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia are poorly studied, but seem to be similar to that of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.

Phrynocephalus

Phrynocephalus versicolor
in Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia

Phrynocephalus mystaceus in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.

Species :

The following 30 species are recognized as being valid.[1]

Phrynocephalus ahvazicus Melnikov et al., 2014
Phrynocephalus ananjevae Melnikov et al., 2013
Phrynocephalus arabicus J. Anderson, 1894 – Arabian toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus axillaris Blanford, 1875
Phrynocephalus clarkorum S.C. Anderson & Leviton, 1967 - Clarks' toad-headed agama
Phrynocephalus erythrurus Zugmayer, 1909
Phrynocephalus euptilopus Alcock & Finn, 1897 – Alcock's toad-headed agama
Phrynocephalus forsythii J. Anderson, 1872 – Forsyth's toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus golubewii Shenbrot & Semyonov, 1990
Phrynocephalus guttatus (Gmelin, 1789) – spotted toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus helioscopus (Pallas, 1771) – sunwatcher toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus interscapularis Lichtenstein, 1856 – Lichtenstein's toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus lutensis Kamali & S.C. Anderson, 2015
Phrynocephalus luteoguttatus Boulenger, 1887 – yellow-speckled toad-headed agama

Phrynocephalus maculatus J. Anderson, 1872 – blacktail toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus mystaceus (Pallas, 1776) – secret toadhead agama

Phrynocephalus ornatus Boulenger, 1887 – ornate toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus persicus De Filippi, 1863
Phrynocephalus przewalskii Strauch, 1876 – Przewalski's toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus putjatai Bedriaga, 1909
Phrynocephalus raddei Boettger, 1888
Phrynocephalus reticulatus Eichwald, 1831 – reticulated toad-headed agama
Phrynocephalus roborowskii Bedriaga, 1906 – Roborowski's toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus rossikowi Nikolsky, 1898 – Uzbekistan toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus sakoi Melnikov et al., 2015
Phrynocephalus scutellatus (Olivier, 1807) – gray toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus strauchi Nikolsky, 1899 – Strauch's toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus theobaldi Blyth, 1963 – Theobald's toad-headed agama, toad mounted lizard, snow lizard
Phrynocephalus versicolor Strauch, 1876 – variegated toadhead agama
Phrynocephalus vlangalii Strauch, 1876 – Ching Hai toadhead agama

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phrynocephalus.

For the external links , refrences click here to read the full wikipedia article

Arabian Toad Head Agama (Phrynocephalus arabicus)

Care Articles :

1- Five Things We Love About Toad Head Agamas

courtesy to : backwaterreptilesblog.com/tag/toad-head-agama/

JULY 16, 2015

Toad Head Agamas are fairly new to the reptile pet industry, but they are currently exploding in popularity. These lizards are very interesting and make super cool pets. In this blog, we decided we’d mention five things we really love about them.

1. Toad Head Agamas are unique in appearance. Not only do they have flaps on the sides of their heads that open up and create a Predator-esque mouth, but these lizards also look quirky when those flaps are relaxed. Their pug noses and eye ridges give them sort of a sleepy bulldog face and we’re definitely digging it. They’ve also got some crazy-long fingers and toes. They use them to dig, burrow, and shimmy into the sand.

When these agamas get upset or threatened, they flare their mouth flaps out and look like the “Predator.” Get to da’ choppuh!!

2. They have very friendly dispositions. When we handled our agamas for our photo shoot, these guys were calm, collected, and super chill. They definitely don’t mind being handled and their demeanor reminded us of bearded dragons – just so laid back.

Check out how friendly these lizards are. They definitely don’t object to being handled. Their favorite food seems to be waxworms.

3. They have little black “bibs” at their neck. These agamas are true gentleman and the black bow ties or bibs underneath their necks prove it! Oh, and did we mention what sweet, gentle temperaments these guys have? :-)

Check out this guys’ little bow tie! That’s how you can tell the males–they have a dark patch under their chin.

5. Feeding time is fun! Like bearded dragons, Toad Head Agamas are pretty much always down to eat. They are insectivores and will consume everything from crickets to roaches readily. Just make sure to vary their diet and they’ll happily chow down.

4. Toad Head Agamas grow to a very manageable size. In general, these guys won’t grow to exceed twelve inches, which means their enclosures also need not be excessively large. A 20 gallon terrarium should suffice. The ones pictured in the blog photos are medium-sized animals and are approximately seven inches long.

Check out this Toad Head’s smile! Such a little sweetheart!

A full body shot of the Toad Head Agama.

Backwater Reptiles has Toad Head Agamas for sale. These lizards are selling out fast though, so be sure to snag yours before they’re gone!

2- Toadhead Agamas :

courtesy to : www.pet-lizard.com/toadhead-agamas

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:   Animalia
Phylum:     Chordata
Subphylum:     Vertebrata
Class:      Reptilia
Order:       Squamata
Suborder:       Sauria
Family:     Agamidae
Subfamily:     Agaminae
Genus:       Phrynocephalus

The genus Phrynocephalus consists of 44 species of gamid lizards, which are of medium size. These lizards, you commonly know as toadhead agamas (Agama Phrynocephalus Arabicus) or even as Toad-Headed Agamas. Toad headed Agamas are terrestrial creatures. They live in dry, hot areas that are either rocky or sandy. These are aggressive creatures, who will fight off other lizards, including members of the same species and even snakes. The hottest part of the day, they spend underground in burrows. When they dig, they use both limbs on one side. When startled or agitated, they curl up their tails over the body and expose the bold striped patterns on the ventral surface. Most of the species in the genus are egg layers (Ovipoparous) who lay several clutches of eggs each year, having one to six eggs in a clutch. Species from the extreme northern areas and those living in higher elevations are ovoviviparous or creatures who retain the un-calcified eggs inside their body till they hatch. These lizards have another name, “the chameleons of the old world”since, like chameleons, they possess the ability to change their body color.

Toadhead Agama

Anatomy :

Arabian toad-headed lizards are fairly small lizards that are highly adapted to life on loose sand. They have no external ear openings. Fringes of scales around the eyes help to keep out the sand grains. It has a short and broad head, deep forehead and a snub nose. These lizards show a high variation in color, with different patterns in white, black and red to match the background color. As a rule, the lizards that you see on coastal sands appear seem to have less patterns in comparison with those on red inland sands. All the variables have in common a black tip on the tail’s underside. These tails, when raised are used in visual signals.

A rough skin and scales overlap on their wide, flattened strong body. They have a long flat tail, rounded at the base. The head is rather large and rounded across the snout. This lizard appears more similar to the U.S. horned toad than a lizard. The external hearing structure (tympanum) is covered by scales. They have partially fringed toes that help the creature to walk on the sand. The colors are browns and grays with lighter and darker markings.

Behavior :

Like other members of the genus, these Toadhead Agama species have adopted what can be called a “sit and wait” hunting strategy. The lizards, very actively use visual orientation when watching for food.

A few particulars stand out in the behavior of the lizards. They include curling the tail as a defensive posture and burrowing the substrate in order to maintain warmth during cold nights, especially at high altitudes. They have the capillary drinking system like the horned toads and the thorny devil.

Toadhead Agama

Videos :

Habitat :

We can find these lizards through and across the middle east to Manchuria. There are around 40 species of the lizard. You can find one species in the Himalayas at elevations above 5000’. Other species inhabit the semi-arid open environments of Asia and eastern Europe.

As a Pet :

Housing :

Provide housing similar to the ones provided for bearded dragons. The terrarium should be large, spacious and dry with a deep sand layer and some rocky slabs or tree barks for the lizards to perch on.

Temperatures :

The daytime temperature gradient should range between 86 to 95 degees F and in the basking areas around 104 degrees F. You can retain the night time gradient around 65 to 70 degrees. You must winter the northern lizard species at 50-60 degrees F for 2-4 months.

Lighting and Heating :

You must provide undertank heating on the warm side. UVB emitting Fluorescents are necessary.

Food :

These lizards are basically insectivores. They feed on invertebrates, which include crickets, beetles, spiders and worms. The Larger ones of the species may eat day old pinky mice. You should spray the enclosures once in a while and provide a shallow container for the lizards to soak. Hey usually do not drink from still water

Frilled Toad Headed Agamas chowing on Dubia Roaches