Ornate spiny-tailed lizard

Uromastyx ornata

Habitat

Arid environments, Hyper-arid environments, Rocky wadis and slopes, Gravelly or stony ground, Sparse acacia or shrubland, Rock crevices

Diet

Plants, Some insects, Arthropods, especially for young individuals

Facts

• Males may show green, blue, or red coloration with yellow or reddish-brown markings, while females are generally paler brown with darker spots.
• Its diet changes with age: the species is mainly plant-eating, but young individuals feed on arthropods and the species also takes some insects.
• A typical reproductive record is one clutch per year; clutch size varies from 3 to 19 eggs, with a mean of 9.

Research sources

• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
• ReptTraits — Uromastyx ornata
• Reptiles of AlUla: Ornate mastigure