Sinai lizard | Facts & Information
# Sinai lizard | Facts & Information
Sinai lizard | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Sinai lizard
Sinai lizard or Sinai Agama (Pseudotrapelus sinaitus) is a lizard that belongs to the family Agamidae, genus Pseudotrapelus and has the following synonyms: Agama sinaitia, Agama arenaria, Agama lichtensteini, Agama sinaitica, Trapelus sinaiticus, Agama neumanni, Agama straminea, Pseudotrapelus sinaita.
Sinai lizard
The Sinai lizard is a reptile species that lives in the area of Saint Catherine's Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. This unique species of lizard was discovered in 1997 by an international team of researchers and was officially named "Pseudopus sinaitus" in honor of the place where it was found.The Sinai lizard is a fascinating animal with distinctive colors and amazing behavior. It has an average length of about 50 centimeters and stands out with its elongated body and short limbs. Its fur is usually gray or brown, and it may have darker spots on its back.
This species of lizard lives in arid habitats such as rocks and deserts, and its preferred shelters include crevices in the rocks and underground galleries. The Sinai lizard has remarkable adaptability to these extreme conditions, managing to survive in a water and food scarce environment.
One of the remarkable aspects of this lizard is its ability to move on vertical surfaces and even ceilings. This is due to the special membranes under its toes, which allow it to grip smooth surfaces and climb effortlessly. Additionally, the Sinai lizard has excellent vision and is capable of closely inspecting even the smallest preys.
These reptiles are solitary and territorial, preferring to live alone in their underground shelters. They are primarily nocturnal animals, going out for hunting during the night. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other small invertebrates, which they capture with their long and sticky tongues.
For reproduction, the Sinai lizard lays eggs in the warm sand of the desert and carefully covers them to protect them from predators and temperature fluctuations. After an incubation period, the hatchlings emerge from the eggs and have to fend for themselves.
Although the Sinai lizard is not considered to be in immediate danger of extinction, it faces certain threats. The intense tourist exploitation of the area around Saint Catherine's Monastery, as well as the destruction of its natural habitat through construction and land cultivation, pose stress factors for this species. Additionally, climate change and environmental destruction can have a negative impact on the long-term population of Sinai lizards.
In conclusion, the Sinai lizard is a fascinating reptile species that lives in the area of Saint Catherine's Monastery on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It has a distinctive appearance and characteristic behavior, successfully adapting to arid and water-deprived environments. However, there are certain threats that endanger the survival of this unique species, and it is important to take conservation measures to protect its natural habitat and ensure the long-term survival of the Sinai lizard.
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Facts
Origin
It lives in the arid areas of the following countries: southeastern Libya, eastern Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, eastern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.
Two subspecies are distinguished from this subspecies:
Pseudotrapelus sinaitus sinaitus
Pseudotrapelus sinaitus werneri
Feeding the Sinai Lizard
The Sinai lizard is active during the day and feeds on insects, other arthropods and plants.
Sometimes it happens that they take mouths of sand when they rush after ants or other insects on the ground.
Features Sinai Lizard
It has a length of up to 25cm, including the tail. The tail is long, thin and light, it allows the lizard to run fast.
Unlike other members of the genus Agama, which had the 4th longest finger, in the Sinai lizard the third finger(the middle one) is the longest.
A peculiarity of this species is the large ear opening behind the eyes and a tail that is one and a half times the length of the body.
The average length is 18-20cm.
An agile and fast lizard, a quick climber, the Sinai lizard is well adapted to arid and rocky habitat.
As a day animal, it raises its tail and uses its long legs to avoid sticking to the hot ground while waiting for prey.
Sinai Lizard breeding
Although during the year it is monotonous and difficult to notice, during the mating season the Sinai lizard is easily recognized by its blue color.
The blue color of the whole body or only the head and neck, the rest of the body remains Brown. The female is usually brown with reddish spots on the sides.
Breeding takes place during the summer, between May and August in Israel. Both male and female become territorial during this period adopting fighting positions when meeting a rival.
The male climbs on a slightly higher rock and during this time communicates with the female.
After mating the female lays 5 to 9 Eggs of 150mm.
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Sinai lizard | Facts & InformationSinai Lizard | Discover Fascinating Facts and Information About Sinai Lizard