Looking for the name and species.

Agamas, geckos, lizards, monitors and skinks indigenous to South Africa.

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Looking for the name and species.

Postby OmGrt » Wed May 20, 2009 5:02 pm

Hi

I'm looking for the name and species of the following lizzard. Any help would be apreciated :)

Image

Many Thanks!!!
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby OmGrt » Wed May 20, 2009 5:09 pm

Sorry the photo was taken in Limpopo province I think.
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby BushSnake » Wed May 20, 2009 6:08 pm

It looks like a strangely marked ground Agama (Agama aculeata) , but I must admit that I have never seen one with similar patterns (I know they vary greatly) so I'm not 100% sure. It's definitely not a Southern rock agama (Agama atra) because the latter doesn't have heavily keeled scales or spikes on the back. If this was taken in the Northern cape I would not have completely excluded the spiny agama (Agama hispida) but they do not occur in Limpopo... as far as we know.
We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium - Ansel Adams
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby OmGrt » Wed May 20, 2009 6:20 pm

I looked around on the net a bit and found this:

Image

They call it a Agama Etoshae.

My eye is not as trained as you folks though. :)

Many thanks for the reply!!!!
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby BushSnake » Wed May 20, 2009 6:39 pm

It all depends on the location. If it is from Limpopo province, it is definitely not A.etoshae, but as I said, it doesn't look like the normal A.aculeata either. The differences can sometimes be quite small (A.hispida vs A.aculeata), and because their colouration varies greatly, it may only be something like the relative lenght of the tail, ridges down the back, shape and extent of keeled dorsals scales, etc. With an accurate location we should be able to narrow it down a lot! I amost forgot about A.armata, but can't remember the difference between A.aculeata and A.armata :oops: I think it had something to do with ridges or spike arrangements, but will have to check later (or wait for one of the pros to reply).
We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium - Ansel Adams
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby Mongoose » Thu May 21, 2009 5:46 pm

Hehe BS - I had a good giggle at you.. And you going to giggle at yourself now..

This is a juvenile Tree Agama - Acanthocercus atricollis
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby BushSnake » Thu May 21, 2009 5:58 pm

Hehehehehe. I think you are right... oops. No wonder the markings looked strange. This will probably go through as my best blooper for the week... Don't know why I didn't even consider it.. :oops:
We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium - Ansel Adams
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby Mongoose » Thu May 21, 2009 6:03 pm

Don't worry BS, I have confused Tree agamas for Agamas aswell.. The difference is - In Tree agamas, the earhole is bigger than the eye(If my mind serves me correct).

But the Agamas can be very tricky to tell apart!
The best things come to those who flip rocks.
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby OmGrt » Fri May 22, 2009 11:59 am

Thanks guys!!! :)

Here is another pic of the little guy. The photo was taken at Leeupoort and he measured at 10 - 12cm

Image
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby Clay » Fri May 22, 2009 1:21 pm

I agree with Mongoose i also think its a little tree agama or what the Durban folk commonly call blue headed lizards/iguanas.
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby BushSnake » Fri May 22, 2009 2:12 pm

Stop posting guys! I want this post to disappear into the archives so that I can restore my dignity ;)
We must remember that a photograph can hold just as much as we put into it, and no one has ever approached the full possibilities of the medium - Ansel Adams
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Re: Looking for the name and species.

Postby Bushviper » Fri May 22, 2009 2:43 pm

If that is a tree agama then why is it not in a tree?

Bushsnake this is never going away.
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