Phrynocephalus mystaceus, also known as the secret toadhead agama[2] and toad-headed agama,[1] is a species of agamid lizard. It is found in southern Russia, Kazakhstan, and northwestern China (Xinjiang) and southward to northern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.[1][2]The most exciting feature of the toad-headed agamas is their defense mechanism. When threatened, they flatten their bodies and open their mouths wide, such that their bright-colored flaps open. This, along with continuous hissing, scares whatever predator they encounter.[3][4][5]
| Phrynocephalus mystaceus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Agamidae |
| Genus: | Phrynocephalus |
| Species: | P. mystaceus
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| Binomial name | |
| Phrynocephalus mystaceus (Pallas, 1776)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Lacerta mystacea Pallas, 1776 | |
Subspecies
editTwo subspecies are recognized:[2]
- Phrynocephalus mystaceus mystaceus (Pallas, 1776)
- Phrynocephalus mystaceus khorasanus Solovyeva, Dunayev, Nazarov, Radjabizadeh & Poyarkov, 2018
Habitat
editPhrynocephalus mystaceus is generally associated with unvegetated tops of large, high sand dunes and occurs at elevations of −45–1,000 m (−148–3,281 ft) above sea level.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Dujsebayeva, T.; Ananjeva, N.B.; Sattorov, T.; Nazarov, R.; Doronin, I.; Melnikov, D.; Shestopal, A.; Nuridjanov, D.; Tuniyev, B.; Aghasyan, A.; Orlov, N.L.; Tuniyev, S.; Anderson, S.; Shi, L.; Guo, X.; Wang, Y. (2019). "Phrynocephalus mystaceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T157250A744631. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T157250A744631.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Phrynocephalus mystaceus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 January 2021.
- ^ Whiting, M. J., Noble, D. W. A., & Qi, Y. (2022, May 30). A potential deimatic display revealed in a lizard. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/136/3/455/6595062?login=false
- ^ Solovyeva, E. N., Dunayev, E. N., Nazarov, R. A., Rajabizadeh, M., & Jr., N. A. P. (2018, April 5). Molecular and morphological differentiation of secret toad-headed Agama, phrynocephalus mystaceus, with the description of a new subspecies from Iran (Reptilia, Agamidae). ZooKeys. https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/20507/
- ^ Zheng, P., Liang, T., & Shi, L. (2024, September 30). Are toe fringes important for lizard burying in highly mobile sand? - frontiers in zoology. BioMed Central. https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12983-024-00546-y
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