| Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agama | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| General information | |||
| Universe | Real Life | ||
| Aliases | Spider-Man Agama | ||
| Classification | Agama mwanzae | ||
| Species type | Dragon Lizard | ||
| Homeworld | Earth | ||
| Environment | Semideserts | ||
| Intelligence | Non-sapient | ||
| Biochemistry | Carbon-based lifeform | ||
| Discovered | 1923 | ||
| Discoverer | Arthur Loveridge | ||
| Biological information | |||
| Reproduction | Sexual; lays eggs | ||
| Average length | Up to 1' | ||
| Locomotion | Quadrupedal | ||
| Prey | Insectivorous (pets will eat locusts, crickets, mealworms, waxworms) | ||
| Distinctive features | Vibrant coloration in males | ||
| Lineage information | |||
| Cultural information | |||
| Alignment | True Neutral | ||
| Sociocultral characteristics | |||
| Scientific taxonomy | |||
| Planet | Earth | ||
| Domain | Eukaryota | ||
| Kingdom | Animalia | ||
| Subkingdom | Eumetazoa | ||
| Infrakingdom | Bilateria | ||
| Superphylum | Deuterostomia | ||
| Phylum | Chordata | ||
| Subphylum | Vertebrata | ||
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata | ||
| Superclass | Tetrapoda | ||
| Class | Reptilia | ||
| Subclass | Neodiapsida | ||
| Infraclass | Lepidosauromorpha (Reptiles more closely related to lizards than crocodilians) | ||
| Superorder | Lepidosauria (Scaled reptiles) | ||
| Order | Squamata (Squamates -- lizards, snakes, & amphisbaenians) | ||
| Suborder | Lacertilia (Lizards) | ||
| Infraorder | Iguania (Iguanomorphs) | ||
| Family | Agamidae (Dragon Lizards) | ||
| Genus | Agama | ||
| Species | mwanzae | ||
| Other information | |||
| Status | Least Concern | ||
| First sighting | 1923 | ||
Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agamas (Agama mwanzae), also known as the Spider-Man Agama, is a species of dragon lizard found in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. It is similar in appearance to the related Red-headed Rock Agama.
Inhabiting semi-arid desert, these rock agamas often spend their day basking on rock outcroppings and larger kopjes. They display sexually dimorphic coloration, with females being a simply brown color and males being vastly more vibrant — their head, neck, and shoulders are bright red or violet and the body is dark blue. Interestingly however, males will quickly change color back to brown after nightfall or if frightened, likely to make them less conspicuous to predators.
As a whole, Mwanza Flat-headed Rock Agamas can scale vertical surfaces and even run on their hind legs if necessary.
Males are highly territorial and polygamous, having around five breeding partners. Once a male has successfully won over a new female, he will perform exotic head bobs and swings in order to court her.
A female of the species.