Phrynocephalus
Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 44 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 that of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.Species
The following 31 species are recognized as being valid.
- Phrynocephalus ahvazicus
- Phrynocephalus ananjevae
- Phrynocephalus arabicus – Arabian toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus axillaris
- Phrynocephalus clarkorum - Clarks' toad-headed agama
- Phrynocephalus erythrurus
- Phrynocephalus euptilopus – Alcock's toad-headed agama
- Phrynocephalus forsythii – Forsyth's toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus frontalis – Shansi toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus golubewii
- Phrynocephalus guttatus – spotted toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus helioscopus – sunwatcher toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus interscapularis – Lichtenstein's toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus lutensis
- Phrynocephalus luteoguttatus – yellow-speckled toad-headed agama
- Phrynocephalus maculatus – blacktail toadhead agama
- Phrynocephalus mystaceus – secret toadhead agama
in Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.
Phrynocephalus ornatus – ornate toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus persicus Phrynocephalus przewalskii – Przewalski's toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus putjatai Phrynocephalus raddei Phrynocephalus reticulatus – reticulated toad-headed agamaPhrynocephalus roborowskii – Roborowski's toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus rossikowi – Uzbekistan toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus sakoi Phrynocephalus scutellatus – gray toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus strauchi – Strauch's toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus theobaldi – Theobald's toad-headed agama, toad mounted lizard, snow lizardPhrynocephalus versicolor – variegated toadhead agamaPhrynocephalus vlangalii – Ching Hai toadhead agamaNota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Phrynocephalus''.
