Uromastyx princeps

Uromastyx princeps, commonly known as the princely mastigure, princely spiny-tailed lizard, or Somalian mastigure, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae.



Geographic range and habitat
The species is endemic to the Horn of Africa. It is not known with certainty from localities outside of Somalia. Probably it could be also present in eastern Ethiopia (Eritrea). It lives in rocky areas of the coastal rocky plateaus of volcanic origin, hiding in the cracks of rocks and crevices between the stones, usually blocking the entrance with the tail.

Description
Uromastix princeps can reach a body length (including the tail) of about 26 cm. The body color may show various shades of olive-gray, greenish or blue, with small brown spots. In males, the back is brown-red or green with small dark spots, while the belly is yellowish and the tail is gray-green or brick-red. The females are gray-brown with a reddish tinge and small spots on top. Their belly is whitish.

The tail is ellipsoidal and significantly shorter (35–53% of the body length) than in other members of the genus, but it shows longer and sharper spikes arranged in 9–14 whorls. All scales on the upper side of the tail have spikes. The tail can be used as a defense.

Biology
U. princeps is an oviparous lizard. Mating occurs in May–June. Pregnancy lasts about one month. The females lay in July up to 14 eggs. This species feeds almost entirely on flowers, fruits and other plants, but also on insects.