Uromastyx alfredschmidti


Uromastyx alfredschmidti, commonly known as the ebony mastigure, Schmidt's mastigure, or Schmidt's spiny-tailed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is indigenous to North Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, alfredschmidti, is in honor of German herpetologist Alfred A. Schmidt.

Geographic range

U. alfredschmidti is found in Algeria and Libya.

Habitat

The natural habitats of U. alfredschmidti are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, rocky areas, and hot deserts.

Conservation status

U. alfredschmidti is threatened by habitat loss.

Diet

Like other species in the genus Uromastyx, U. alfredschmidti is herbivorous.

Reproduction

U. alfredschmidti is oviparous.

Taxonomy

The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words ourá meaning "tail" and mastigo meaning "whip" or "scourge", after the thick-spiked tail characteristic of all Uromastyx species.