"Crocodile Canyon"

Tagant Plateau, Mauritania

Moudjéria and the Tagant Plateau expedition area

The second way to reach the crocodiles in Hartéga Guelta involved a drive back to El Marshra and then up onto the elevated Tagent Plateau, south of Oued El Glat and around the oued, approaching the guelta from the east.

This route was also interesting in itself.

The road up onto the Tagant Plateau is in placed just bare rock	but in others it is an obvious sandy road.
This area was once a productive agricultural area, neolithic grain stores and huts are common features.

Although most of the plateau is now bare black rock it was once a highly productive agricultural region and the remains of neolithic huts and grain stores still dot the landscape.

Looking down into Oued El Glat	and back towards Moudjéria.

Rocky habitat on the Tagant Plateau.

Searching under flat rocks and boulders we located Banded dab lizards (Uromastyx dispar flavifasiata), a spiny-tailed vegetarian that obtains moisture by absorption through the belly skin when sheltering under flat rocks. These lizards are eaten by locals.

With a newly captured Banded dab lizard, Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata

Banded dab lizard, Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata, female
Banded dab lizard, Uromastyx dispar flavifasciata, male

Searching under flat rocks we also found the Meditteranean scorpion (Buthus occitanus).

Mediterranean scorpion, Buthus occitanus