Phrynocephalus

Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 36 species of small and medium-sized agamid lizards, commonly called toadhead agamas or toad-headed agamas, that inhabit open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. The systematics of this genus are very complicated with many controversial points of view about the unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have adopted the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy, and they actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general, the ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia are poorly studied but seem to be similar to those of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.

Species

The following 36 species are recognized as being valid.<ref>Phrynocephalus. The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>

• Phrynocephalus ananjevae Template:Small – Natalie's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus arabicus Template:Small – Arabian toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus axillaris Template:Small – Yarkand toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus clarkorum Template:Small – Afghan toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus erythrurus Template:Small – Sagus Kul lizard
• Phrynocephalus euptilopus Template:Small – Alcock's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus forsythii Template:Small – Forsyth's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus frontalis Template:Small – Shansi toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus golubewii Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus guttatus Template:Small – spotted toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus helioscopus Template:Small – sunwatcher toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus hispidus Template:Small – Dzhungar variegated toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus horvathi Template:Small – Horvath's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus interscapularis Template:Small – Lichtenstein's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus kulagini Template:Small – Kulagin's variegated toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus lutensis Template:Small – Lut Desert toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus luteoguttatus Template:Small – yellow-speckled toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus maculatus Template:Small – blacktail toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus meridionalis Template:Small – sunwatcher toadhead agama; Fergana toad-headed agama
• Phrynocephalus mystaceus Template:Small – secret toadhead agama

File:Phrynocephalus mystaceus.jpg

Phrynocephalus mystaceus in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.

• Phrynocephalus ornatus Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus persicus Template:Small – Persian toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus przewalskii Template:Small – Przewalski's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus putjatai Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus raddei Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus reticulatus Template:Small – reticulated toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus roborowskii Template:Small – Roborowski's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus rossikowi Template:Small – Uzbekistan toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus saidalievi Template:Small – Fergana toad-headed agama
• Phrynocephalus sakoi Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus scutellatus Template:Small – gray toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus strauchi Template:Small – Strauch's toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus theobaldi Template:Small – Theobald's toadhead agama, toad-headed lizard, or snow lizard
• Phrynocephalus versicolor Template:Small – Tuvan toadhead agama
• Phrynocephalus vindumi Template:Small
• Phrynocephalus vlangalii Template:Small – Ching Hai toadhead agama

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phrynocephalus.

Further reading

"Caup [= Kaup JJ]" (1825). "Einige Bemerkungen zu Merrems Handbuch [= Some Remarks on Merrem's Handbook]". Isis von Oken 16: 589–593. (Phrynocephalus, new genus, p. 591). (in German). Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control