Phrynocephalus

Phrynocephalus
Phrynocephalus versicolor
in Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Sauria
Family: Agamidae
Subfamily: Agaminae
Genus: Phrynocephalus
Kaup, 1825
Species

44 species, see text

Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 44 species of small and medium-sized agamid lizards, commonly called toadhead agamas or toad-headed agamas, that inhabit open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. The systematics of this genus is very complicated with many controversial points of view about the unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have adopted the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy and they actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general, the ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia are poorly studied, but seem to be similar to that of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.

Species[1]

References

  1. Phrynocephalus, The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading

"Caup" [Kaup JJ]. 1825. "Einige Bemerkungen zu Merrems Handbuch" [Some Remarks on Merrem's Handbook]. Isis von Oken 16: 589-593. (Phrynocephalus, new genus, p. 591).

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.