Saara asmussi

Saara asmussi, also known commonly as the Iranian mastigure and the Persian spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

Etymology
The specific name, asmussi, is in honor of Baltic German paleozoologist Hermann Martin Asmuss.

Geographic range
S. asmussi occurs in Afghanistan, southern Iran, and Pakistan.

Description
S. asmussi may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 26 cm, and a tail length of 21 cm.

Diet
S. asmussi eats leaves, stems, and seeds of herbaceous plants.

Behavior
S. asmussi excavates a burrow in which it shelters. If disturbed it lashes its heavy spiky tail in defense.

Reproduction
S. asmussi is oviparous.