Agamas

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Agama Daudin, 1802 | image = Agama.jpg | image_width = 200px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Reptilia | ordo = Squamata | subordo = Sauria | familia = Agamidae | subdivision_ranks = Genera }}


Agama[Daudin, 1802] are a genus in the family Agamidae family of lizards, containing about 27-35 species in Africa. (Manthey and Schuster, 1996)


Another species is the red-headed rock agama (Agama agama), a widespread lizard in sub-Saharan Africa. Its original habitat is the savanna, but today it also lives within villages and towns. These agamas form groups of ten to twenty. The "leader" is an old male, while females and young males constitute the other members of the group. The colour is dark brown at night, but after dawn the colours of the dominant male will change: the body becomes light blue, head and tail bright orange. These colours may change again dependending on the dominant male's mood. For instance, if the male agamas fight, their head will become brown, and white spots appear on their body. Fights take place when a male not belonging to the group appears. It will try to dispute the leadership of the dominant male. When fighting, agamas hiss and try to hit each other's head with their tail. These strokes may be very violent and often result in haematomas or fractured jaws.
The females in the group are entirely brown. Often there is a highest-ranking female, that remains close to the leading male and tries to drive away other females.

References

Manthey and Schuster. 1996. Agamid Lizards. T.F.H Publications Inc. U.S.A.

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