Agamids
Mwanza Flat-Headed Rock Agama (Agama mwanzae), male, Serengeti, Tanzania
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Iguania
Family:	Agamidae
Subfamilies
6, see text

Agamids, lizards of the family Agamidae, include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. They are commonly called dragons or dragon lizards. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, and have a similar appearance. Agamids usually have well-developed, strong legs. Their tails cannot be shed and regenerated like those of geckoes, though a certain amount of regeneration is observed in some.^[1][2] Many agamid species are capable of limited change of their colours to regulate their body temperature.^[3] In some species, males are more brightly coloured than females^[4] and colours play a part in signaling and reproductive behaviours.^[5] Although agamids generally inhabit warm environments, ranging from hot deserts to tropical rainforests, at least one species, the Mountain Dragon, is found in cooler regions.

One of the key distinguishing features of the agamids is their teeth, which are borne on the outer rim of the mouth (acrodont), rather than on the inner side of the jaws (pleurodont). This feature is shared with the chameleons, but is otherwise unusual among lizards. Agamid lizards are generally diurnal, with good vision, and include a number of arboreal species, in addition to ground and rock-dwellers. They generally feed on insects and other arthropods (such as spiders), although some larger species may include small reptiles or mammals, nestling birds, flowers or other vegetable matter in their diets.^[6] The great majority of agamid species are oviparous.^[7]

Contents 1 Systematics 2 Subfamilies[11] 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Systematics

There have been very few studies of the Agamidae with the first comprehensive assessment by Moody (1980) followed by a more inclusive assessment by Frost and Etheridge (1989). Subsequent studies were based on mitochondrial DNA loci^[8][9][10] (using allozymes), and sampling across the Agamidae. Few other studies focused on clades within the family, but the Agamidae have not been as well investigated as the Iguanidae.

[edit] Subfamilies^[11]

Among the Agamidae, six clades or lineages are generally recognized^{[citation needed]}:

• Agaminae (African)
• Amphibolurinae (Australian and New Guinean)
• Draconinae (South and Southeast Asian)
• Hydrosaurinae (Hydrosaurus)
• Leiolepidinae (Leiolepis)
• Uromasticinae (Saara and Uromastyx)

The chameleons of the sister family Chamaeleonidae are sometimes discussed^{[citation needed]} as subfamily Chamaeleoninae and subfamily Agaminae (referring to Agamidae, not the Agaminae mentioned above).

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Agamidae

Wikispecies has information related to: Agamidae

[edit] External links

• www.reptile-database.org Agamidae, The Reptiles Database