Tuvan toad-headed agama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tuvan toad-headed agama |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Phrynocephalus |
| Species: |
P. versicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Phrynocephalus versicolor Strauch, 1876
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| Range of Phrynocephalus versicolor | |
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The Phrynocephalus versicolor, also known as the Tuvan toad-headed agama, is a type of agamid lizard. You can find this lizard living in the deserts of China and Mongolia. A Russian scientist named Alexander Strauch first described it in 1876. He was a herpetologist, which means he studied reptiles and amphibians.
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What Are the Different Types of Tuvan Toad-Headed Agamas?
Scientists have found three slightly different types, or subspecies, of the Tuvan toad-headed agama. They are:
- Phrynocephalus versicolor doriai
- Phrynocephalus versicolor siebenrocki
- Phrynocephalus versicolor versicolor
How to Identify a Tuvan Toad-Headed Agama
This lizard can grow to be about 13 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. This measurement includes its tail, which is longer than its head and body put together. Its head is big and round, and its snout is blunt. This means its nose looks flat and its nostrils are easy to see from above.
The lizard's skin has a rough feel because of its scales. The scales along its back are smooth. But other scales on its back are thicker and slightly raised. The scales on its belly have short, spiny tips.
Its tail is long and gets thinner towards the end. It's flat near the body and round further out. Male lizards have a thicker tail base. The color of these lizards can change. Their back is usually olive green or gray. They have two to five dark brown or black stripes across their body. Sometimes, there's an orange spot under their armpit. Their legs also have dark bands, and their belly is white. The tail has up to nine dark stripes, and its tip is black underneath.
Where Do Tuvan Toad-Headed Agamas Live?
You can find the Tuvan toad-headed agama in Mongolia and in several parts of China. These areas include Xinjiang, Gansu, Ningxia, and Nei Mongol. These lizards prefer rocky plains and hillsides. They also live in canyons and on sand dunes. Their homes often have sagebrush and other thin, scrubby plants.
Many of these lizards live high up, more than 3,200 meters (about 10,500 feet) above sea level. The weather in these places can be extreme. Temperatures can drop to -30°C (-22°F) in winter. In summer, they can reach 40°C (104°F). There isn't much rain, and most of it falls in mid-summer.
Life and Habits of the Tuvan Toad-Headed Agama
The Tuvan toad-headed agama takes a long nap during winter. This is called hibernation. They are active from March until the end of September. During hot summer days, they stay in their burrows to escape the heat. They also hide in their burrows during cold nights.
Their burrow is a simple tunnel with one entrance. It ends in a small room about 10 to 13 centimeters (4 to 5 inches) underground. These lizards eat small bugs. Their diet includes ants, flies, grasshoppers, and ground beetles.
When it rains, these lizards do something special. They stand with their back legs straight and front legs bent. They also lower their head. This way, any water that lands on their back slides down towards their mouth. It's like they're using their body as a funnel to drink!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Tuvan toad-headed agamas are ready to have babies when they are about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long. During the rainy season, a female digs a hole in damp ground. This hole is about 5 centimeters (2 inches) deep. She lays up to five white or slightly pink eggs in this hole.
The eggs hatch after about 30 days. The baby lizards are about 5 centimeters (2 inches) long when they are born. Young lizards come in many different colors. They also stand in the same special way as adults when it rains, collecting water.
Conservation Status of the Tuvan Toad-Headed Agama
The Tuvan toad-headed agama lives in a large area. It is quite common in its dry desert homes. The number of these lizards seems to be steady. No major dangers have been found that threaten them. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says its status is "least concern". This means they are not worried about this species becoming endangered soon.
 | Janet Taylor Pickett |
 | Synthia Saint James |
 | Howardena Pindell |
 | Faith Ringgold |
