Vinu kindly sent me a photo of an
Arabian Toad-headed Agama that he took near Al Kharj and has allowed me to use
on my website. The Arabian toad-headed agama Phrynocephalus arabicus, locally known as Sabahbah is also known as
the chisel-teeth lizards due to the compressed, fused teeth being firmly
attached to the upper jaw, unlike most other lizards which have loosely
attached teeth. These lizards are also known as the chameleons of the Old World
due to their striking ability to change their body colour. They typically have
a wide, strong, flattened body, covered in rough skin with overlapping scales,
and a long, flattened tail which is rounded at the base. The Arabian
toad-headed agama is a fairly small lizard that is highly adapted to life on
loose sand. It has no external ear openings and fringes of long scales around
the eyes keep out sand grains. The head is short and broad with a deep forehead
and snub nose. It is highly variable in colour with various patterns of black,
white and reddish markings, and it tends to match the colour of its background.
As such, lizards found on pale coastal sands tend to be paler and less
patterned than those lizards on red, inland sands. All variations, however,
retain a black tip on the underside of the tail which, when raised, is used in
visual signals. Scurrying across the sand, seeking out its insect prey, the
Arabian toad-headed agama is active in all but the hottest hours of the day.
During the hottest periods, it will stand high on extended legs to limit
contact with the sand, balancing on fingertips and heels while using the tail
as a prop. It may remain dormant during cold winter day. The Arabian
toad-headed agama is able to sink rapidly into the sand by vibrating the body
in a process called ‘shimmy burial’, and it uses this behaviour to escape from
predators or create a nocturnal shelter. This species ranges from southeastern
Jordan into the Arabian Peninsula, including much of Saudi Arabia, the United
Arab Emirates, Oman (except the mountainous areas) and Iran (known only from
the Mesopotamian Plain in the vicinity of Ahvaz). It is not known from Iraq. It
occurs from sea level to around 1,000 m asl. They live in desert regions and
are found in areas of soft, wind-blown sand but can also occur on harder and
drier substrates with sparse vegetation. It is not found in rural agricultural
areas.
