|
An agama is any one of the various small, long-tailed, insectivorous lizards of the genus ''Agama''. The genus ''Agama'' is composed of at least 37 species found across Africa, where they are the most common lizard. They can be found in many sizes, from 12.5 to 30 cm (5 in. to 1 ft.) in length and a wide variety of colours. One of the best known species is ''Agama agama'', widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. For Eurasian agamaids, see the genus ''Laudakia''. Agamas originally lived in forest and bush across Africa, but have since adapted to live in villages and compounds where their habitat has been cleared. They live inside the thatch of huts and other small spaces, emerging only to feed. If caught out in the open, agamas are able to run quickly on their hind legs to reach shelter. The desert agama can still be found in the dry areas of North Africa. Despite their name, they avoid bare sand. Agamas are active during the day and are often found scampering around to snatch up their favorite foods. They can tolerate greater temperatures than most reptiles, but in the afternoon when temperatures reach around 38°C (100°F) they will settle into the shade and wait for it to cool. Frequent fighting breaks out between males; such fighting involves a lot of bobbing and weaving in an attempt to scare the opponent. If it comes to blows, they lash out with their tails and threaten each other with open jaws. Many older males have broken tails as a result of such fights. Females may sometimes chase and fight one another, while hatchlings mimic the adults in preparation for their future.〔 Agamas are mainly insectivores. Their incisor-like front teeth are designed for quick cutting and chewing of their prey. They may also eat grass, berries, seeds and even the eggs of smaller lizards. Most agamas are polygamous. Males may hold six or more females in their territory for breeding. During courtship, the male bobs his head to impress the female. Occasionally, females initiate courtship by offering their hindquarters to the male and then running until he is able to catch up. The breeding season is typically March–May with eggs being laid in June–September during the season after the rains. Eggs are laid in clutches of up to 12.〔 ==Species== Listed alphabetically.〔 〕 * ''Agama aculeata'' Merrem, 1820 – ground agama * ''Agama africana'' (Hallowell, 1844) * ''Agama agama'' (Linnaeus, 1758) – red-headed rock agama, common agama, rainbow agama * ''Agama anchietae'' Bocage, 1896 – western rock agama, Anchieta's agama * ''Agama armata'' W. Peters, 1855 – tropical spiny agama * ''Agama atra'' Daudin, 1802 – southern rock agama * ''Agama bocourti'' Rochebrune, 1884 – Bocourt's agama * ''Agama boensis'' Monard, 1940 * ''Agama bottegi'' Boulenger, 1897 – Somali agama * ''Agama boueti'' Chabanaud, 1917 – Mali agama * ''Agama boulengeri'' Lataste, 1886 – Boulenger's agama * ''Agama castroviejoi'' Padial, 2005 – Mauritania agama * ''Agama caudospinosa'' Meek, 1910 – Elmenteita rock agama * ''Agama cornii'' Scortecci, 1928 – Scortecci's agama * ''Agama cristata'' Mocquard, 1905 – insular agama * ''Agama doriae'' Boulenger, 1885 – Nigeria agama * ''Agama etoshae'' McLachlan, 1981 – Etosha agama * ''Agama finchi'' Böhme, Wagner, Malonza, Lötters & Köhler, 2005 – Finch's agama or Malaba rock agama * ''Agama gracilimembris'' Chabanaud, 1918 – Benin agama * ''Agama hartmanni'' W. Peters, 1869 – Hartmann's agama〔Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore. Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (''Agama hartmanni'', p. 117).〕 * ''Agama hispida'' (Kaup, 1827) – common spiny agama * ''Agama impalearis'' Boettger, 1874 – Bibron's agama * ''Agama insularis'' Chabanaud, 1918 – insular agama * ''Agama kaimosae'' Loveridge, 1935 * ''Agama kirkii'' Boulenger, 1885 – Kirk's rock agama * ''Agama lanzai'' Wagner, Leaché, Mazuch & Böhme, 2013 * ''Agama lebretoni'' Wagner, Barej & Schmitz, 2009 – Lebreton's agama * ''Agama lionotus'' Boulenger, 1896 – Kenyan rock agama * ''Agama lucyae'' Wagner & Bauer, 2011 * ''Agama montana'' Barbour & Loveridge, 1928 – montane (rock) agama * ''Agama mossambica'' W. Peters, 1854 – Mozambique agama * ''Agama mucosoensis'' Hellmich, 1957 – Mucoso agama * ''Agama mwanzae'' Loveridge, 1923 – Mwanza flat-headed rock agama * ''Agama parafricana'' S. Trape, Mediannikov & J. Trape, 2012 * ''Agama paragama'' Grandison, 1968 – false agama * ''Agama persimilis'' Parker, 1942 – Somali painted agama, similar agama * ''Agama planiceps'' W. Peters, 1862 – Namib rock agama * ''Agama robecchii'' Boulenger, 1892 – Robecchi's agama * ''Agama rueppelli'' Vaillant, 1882 – Rüppell's agama, arboreal agama * ''Agama sankaranica'' Chabanaud, 1918 – Senegal agama * ''Agama somalica'' Wagner, Leaché, Mazuch & Böhme, 2013 * ''Agama spinosa'' Gray, 1831 – Lanza's spiny agama * ''Agama sylvana'' M. MacDonald, 1981 * ''Agama tassiliensis'' Geniez, Padial, and Crochet, 2011 * ''Agama turuensis'' Loveridge, 1932 * ''Agama wagneri'' S. Trape, Mediannikov & J. Trape, 2012 * ''Agama weidholzi'' Wettstein, 1932 – Gambia agama ''Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Agama''. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Agama (lizard)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|