The Caucasian Agama: description and habitat

Rocky slopes, cliffs, gorges, huge boulders, ruins – the most probable places where you can find a mountain lizard as Agama Caucasian.

The habitat of this reptile shall extend to the territory of Turkey, Iran, Dagestan. Also reptile is found in Afghanistan and the Eastern part of the Caucasus.

Caucasian Agama: the form and body color

Reptile is large enough, the body length without a tail of about 15 cm, with the tail – 36 see the Mature Weight of 160 grams. Wide torso, the base of the tail and angular massive head of the Caucasian Agama flattened, the scales are characterized by different sizes and shapes: on the tail located the correct rings. The tympanic membrane is placed on the surface of the head. The Caucasian Agama, the development of the claws which occurs with the base (as in mammals), has thin fingers. Claws of reptiles erased and bend depending on the conditions of existence: the presence of natural shelters or the lack of them, hard or soft ground.

The Abdomen of the animal is painted in cream or light brown color. The characteristic feature of this species is dark marble pattern on the throat. Young specimen can be observed from the pattern of transverse bands of dark and light.

The Caucasian Agama is coloured in brown or grey color, which depends on the background environment. Reptile, living in the red sandstones – brown-red, on calcareous rocks – grey-ash, the occupant of basaltic rocks has a brown, almost black color.

Recommended

Competition is the rivalry between participants in the market economy. Types and functions of competition

Competition – a concept inherent in a market economy. Every participant in the financial and commercial relations, seeks to take the best place in the environment where it must operate. For this reason, there is stiff competition. The struggle ...

The mayor: powers and duties. Elections of the mayor

Normal functioning of all systems of the settlement, competent and timely execution of tasks in the sphere of economic, social and other areas of development is impossible without control of the mayor. But how voters can evaluate the quality of work ...

Francisco Franco: biography and political activities

When the civil war began in Spain, General Francisco Franco (Francisco Paulino of Hermenegildo Teodulo Franco Bahamonde - full name) celebrated its arakatzailea, but he seemed already tired of life and much older than his years. To unpresentable appe...

Lifestyle

The Animal active until the autumn-early winter. With the onset of the dormancy period falls into a stupor. Temperature indicator body at this time varies from +0,8 ^oC to +9,8 ^OC. the warm winter, the body temperature rises, and in January, waking from sleep, the animal comes to the surface.

In the diet of the Caucasian Agama superbarca: eats plant foods (fruits, seeds, flower buds, leaves), spiders, beetles, butterflies. Can use a small snake or small lizard (even their own species).

Despite its apparent clumsiness, the Caucasian Agama is very agile, deftly moving among the rocks and is able to jump from one to the other at a distance of half a meter. Moving on the soil surface, high lifts his tail; climbing on rocks, presses him to the stones, leaning on the tail spikes. With powerful paws and sharp claws able to hold on to vertical walls, steep slopes, smooth boulders.

In places of distribution of the Caucasian Agama often catch the eye because of the large number. In the morning (after sunrise) reptiles emerge from the shelters and take long sun baths, looking out for passing prey. As observation posts, used the steep slopes or boulders, lying on of which overlook what is happening around. In the process of observing the outside world periodically squatted on the front legs.

Behavior in case of danger

The Caucasian Agama, the habitat of which is almost always associated with mountains and foothills, the approach of danger feels at a distance of 20-30 meters. Turning in the direction of the enemy, the excitement gives frequent head tilts. Allowing the approaching object 2-3 meters, lightning rushes to his hideout, and, clinging to located at the entrance of the rocks is masked. In the case of highly endangered lizard hiding in the shelter, to remove where it is not possible: the animal swells in size and clings scales for all sorts of irregularities. There are cases of jamming of reptiles in narrow gaps and their subsequent death from exhaustion.

Caught the Caucasian Agama, the habitat of which extends to many territories, has no resistance and falls into a semiconscious state. At this point, with a reptile you can do anything: bet on the head to hang by the tail, laying on his back – Agama will still remain stationary. Bring out the animal from its stupor can be sharp sound (e.g., cotton in the palm).

Pairing

The Supervisory process and the security of the territory in which he has lived from 1 to 4 females engaged males. By trespassing stranger male the owner of the site it attacks. Such action is sufficient to reduce the “invaders” to flee.

Mating in the Caucasian Agam starts after Wake-up (March-April) and lasts until mid-summer. The male pays attention to all “ladies” living in his area and communicates with them even at the end of the breeding period. Nomadic males, who often are young lizards, in reproduction do not participate.

Breeding progeny

Laying the female produces in the late spring and summer in the crack of the rock dug under a rock hole. During the season there are 2 walls. The number of eggs (up to 2.5 cm) to the nest from 4 to 14 pieces. After 1.5-2 months from the moment of laying, the light appears a new generation of a unique animal such as the Caucasian Agama. The development of claws and other bodies is fairly active. Puberty reptiles reach on a 3-year life.

Migration of the Caucasian Agama

Mostly of the Caucasian Agama, the habitat of which is also recorded in Armenia, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, lives in a fixed place. Sometimes in the search for deep, safe shelters, helps you survive the winter, the animal is forced to migrate. As suitable for wintering places are often occupied by the same individuals, with the arrival of spring Caucasian Agama returned to their territory. The problem space search occurs and the females of this species of lizard looking for a place for egg laying. And as among the rocks to find it quite difficult, the mountain Agama is sometimes overcome distances of up to several kilometers to find shelter with suitable conditions. The young, hatched in areas of masonry, there is winter and then settled in the territory.

The captive state

In captivity, the animal should be kept in spacious cages with horizontal sufficient height, so as the Caucasian Agama willing to use a vertical surface. As the soil is best suited gravel. Recommended temperature of the contents of +28-30 ^OC (heated to +40 to 45 ^O). Night index should be +18-20 ^OC. in Winter the lizards, you must provide a cool climate.

The Back wall of the terrarium can be arranged in the form of a rock with shallow gaps in which the animal must be able to hide. As feeds can be of various insects. A couple of times a week diet it is advisable to diversify apples, oranges, sprouts oats. Will not give up the Caucasian Agama from newborn mice. For successful maintenance, it is recommended to feed argama various mineral and vitamin supplements, and irradiating with ultraviolet light.