Its size varies from 13 to 30 cm (5.1 to 11.8 in) in total length.[6] Males are typically 7.5 to 12 cm (3.0 to 4.7 in) longer than the average female. The agama lizard can be identified by having a white underside, brown back limbs and a tail with a light stripe down the middle. The stripe on the tail typically possesses about six to seven dark patches along its side. Females, adolescents and subordinate males have an olive green head, while a dominant male has a blue body and yellow tail.
The common agama is endemic to countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tanzania and Uganda.[7],.[5] However, it has been introduced through the reptile trade to southern Florida, where it has become extremely common.
Agama agama is well-adapted to arid conditions. These lizards remain active throughout the day except for the hottest hour, when even shaded spots can reach 38 °C (100 °F).[8]
Male agamas are territorial and must fight other males to claim their space. Agamas live in social groups including a lead male, about half a dozen females, and subordinate males. Subordinate males can only gain their own group if they eliminate the existing lead male (the "cock") or establish a colony outside all other cocks' territory. Only the cock is allowed to mate with the females. The center of a cock's territory is usually marked by the presence of a physical object, such as a tree or boulder, on which the lizards congregate. In urban areas, fights between males are more common because space is at a higher premium.[8]
Females are sexually mature at 14–18 months, while males take 2 years. Agama agama tends to reproduce during the wet season, but can also reproduce in areas that receive constant rainfall. After fertilization and when she is ready to lay, the female will dig a hole 5 cm (2 in) deep with her snout and claws in damp, sandy soil that is covered with grasses or other plants and which receives sunlight during most of the day. Once finished, the female will lay a clutch of 5–7 ellipsoidal eggs that hatch within a period of 8–10 weeks.
The sex of common agama embryos are determined by temperature, so all male eggs experienced a temperature of 29 °C (84 °F) while female eggs are in the 26–27 °C (79–81 °F) range. After hatching, the offspring will measure about 3.7 cm (1.5 in) snout to vent, plus their 7.5 cm (3.0 in) tail.[9]
Wilms, T., Wagner, P., Rödel, M.-O., Luiselli, L., Segniagbeto, G., Niagate, B. & Jallow, M. 2021. Agama agama. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T172799A1374221. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T172799A1374221.en. Accessed on 22 January 2022. Mediannikov, O.; Trape, S.; Trape, J-F. (2012). "A Molecular Study of the Genus Agama (Squamata: Agamidae) in West Africa, with Description of Two New Species and a Review of the Taxonomy, Geographic Distribution, and Ecology of Currently Recognized Species". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 19 (2).
"Agama". reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Czech Republic: The Reptile Database. Burton, Maurice; Burton, Robert (2002). "Agama". International Wildlife Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). New York: Marshall Cavendish Corp. p. 30.
- Spawls, S., et al. (2006). Reptiles and Amphibians of East Africa Princeton: Princeton University Press.