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16 August 2020

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard - Wannan

Whilst searching the desert areas in the middle of summer we found an Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard. I saw the lizard running very quickly across the stoney desert before if sat down to hide as it was too far from its burrow to make it back safely. I took a couple of photos before it ran off again, made it to its burrow and disappeared. This individual was bright yellow in colour as it had obviously spent time warming up in the hot sunshine as the temperature was 46 degreed Celsius. These lizards are relatively common and widespread across Saudi Arabia preferring hard stony ground to excavate their holes. They are ground dwelling and live in some of the most arid regions of the planet. The Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia microlepisoccurs in the Eastern Province and is generally regarded as a subspecies of the Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia. It is locally known to the Arabs as 'Dhub'.
Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard

Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizard