Reptilia: LACERTILIA (Lizards)
Part 3 : Other Lizards

Agamidae:

Phrynocephalus arabicus - Arabian toad-headed agama
These small agamas can be found displaying around the bushes on the gravel pans at Al Batayeh, Sharjah, but we were unable to capture one and resorted to photographing a captive in the AWC collection. There are only two toad-headed agama species on the Arabian Peninsula, the other species occur in south and south-central Asia.

Arabian toad-headed agama, Phyrnocepahlus arabicus a specimen at AWC, Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE

Pseudotrapelus sinaitus  - Sinai agama
This medium-sized agama is common in the Wadi Al Bih, Musandam, Oman, but the only specimen seen during the trip evaded capture and it was necessary to photograph a specimen from the AWC collection. The Sinai agama belongs to a monospecific genus found widely in the Arabian Peninsula and neighbouring Africa.

Sinai agama, Pseudotrapelus sinaitus a specimen at AWC, Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE

Trapelus flavimaculatus - Yellow-spotted agama
A large agama seen around the Sharjah Desert Park where is was observed sitting on kerb-stones or in the middle of the road. This is the only species from genus Trapelus to occur in UAE and Oman.

Yellow-spotted agama, Trapelus flavimaculatus a specimen outside SDP, Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE

Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni -Emirates dhab lizard
The local endemic dhab lizard and formerly treated as a full species, the Emirates dhab lizard is now regarded as a subspecies of the more widespread Egyptian dhab lizard (U.aegyptia). A large animal, this herbivorous spiny-tailed lizard was often seen at the entrance to its burrow on the gravel pans at Al Batayeh, Sharjah, into which it would retreat when the approacher was still a distant threat. I am reliably informed the word dhab is the Arabic name for these lizards so they should not be spelt dab or dabb, both of which are common spellings in collections.

Emirates dhab lizard, Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni a specimen from Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE

Lacertidae:

Acanthodactylus schmidti - Schmidt's fringe-fingered lizard
Surprisingly the only lacertid encountered despite several other species and genera being known for the eastern Arabian Peninsula. This small lizard was very common on the sand dunes at Al Batayeh at night and presumable is a main component in the diets of the areas saurophagous snakes and small mammals.

Schmidt's fringe-fingered lizard, Acanthodactylus schmidti a specimen from Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE

Scincidae:

Scincus mitranus - Arabian sandfish
The only skink encountered was the fast-disappearing sandfish, an apt name for a creature with the perfect snout development and body shape to burrow rapidly and swim through loose sand. Despite seeing several disappear on sand dunes only one was captured by rapidly scooping armfulls of sand into a child's fishing net.

Arabian sandfish, Scincus mitranus a specimen from Al Batayeh, Sharjah, UAE