Uromastyx

The Uromastyxes are a genus of lizard known as the Spiny-tailed lizards. All Uromastyx species are vegetarian eating a wide variety of greens. They spend most of their lives hiding and living underground or in rocky areas with good shelter.

Uromastyx lizards are also called dabb lizards and "uros." Their size ranges from 14 inches (U. hardwickii) to 36 inches or more (U. aegyptius). Hatchlings or neonates are small, usually no more than 3-4 inches in length. The lizards' color changes according to the temperature, during cool weather they appear dull and dark but the colors become lighter in warm weather. They inhabit a range stretching through most of North Africa, the Middle East and across south-central Asia and into India. This area spreads across 5000 miles and 30 countries. They occur at elevations from sea level to well over 3000 feet. Uromastyx tend to bask in areas with surface temperatures of over 120 degrees F.