Uromastyx#Consumption by humans

The generic name Uromastyx is derived from the Ancient Greek words ourá (οὐρά) meaning "tail" and -mastix (μάστιξ) meaning "whip" or "scourge", after the thick-spiked tail characteristic of all Uromastyx species.{{cite web|url=http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/220570|title=Oxford English Dictionary, uroˈmastix, n.|work=Oxford English Dictionary|access-date=16 June 2016}}

The following species are in the genus Uromastyx.{{EMBL genus|genus=Uromastyx}}. www.reptile-database.org. Three additional species were formerly placed in this genus, but have been moved to their own genus, Saara.Wilms TM, Böhme W, Wagner P, Lutzmann N, Schmitz A (2009). "On the Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: Uromastycinae) – Resurrection of the Genus Saara Gray, 1845". Bonner zoologische Beiträge 56 (1/2): 55–99.

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

Uromastyx species range in size from {{convert|25|cm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} for U. macfadyeni to {{convert|91|cm|in|abbr=on}} or more for U. aegyptia. Hatchlings or neonates are usually no more than {{convert|7|-|10|cm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} in length.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} Like many reptiles, these lizards' colors change according to the temperature and season.{{Cite web|last=Robert|first=Nigel|title=10 Types of Uromastyx Species|url=https://www.morereptiles.com/types-of-uromastyx-species/|access-date=2022-07-22|website=MoreReptiles|language=en-US}} During cool weather they appear dull and dark, but the colors become lighter in warm weather, especially when basking. The darker pigmentation allows their skin to absorb sunlight more effectively.

Their spiked tail is muscular and heavy, and is able to be swung at an attacker with great velocity, usually accompanied by hissing and an open-mouthed display of (small) teeth. Uromastyx generally sleep in their burrows with their tails closest to the opening, in order to thwart intruders.{{cite book|last=Capula|first=Massimo|author-link=species:Massimo Capula|author2=Behler, John L.|author-link2=John L. Behler|title=Simon & Schuster's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of the World|publisher=Simon & Schuster|year=1989|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/simonschustersgu00capu/page/259 259]|isbn=0-671-69098-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/simonschustersgu00capu/page/259}}

Uromastyx inhabit a range stretching through most of North and Northeast Africa, the Middle East, ranging as far east as Iran. Species found further east are now placed in the genus Saara. Uromastyx occur at elevations from sea level to well over {{convert|3000|ft|m|disp=flip|sigfig=1|abbr=on}}. They are regularly eaten, and sold in produce markets, by local peoples.

Uromastyx lizards acquire most of the water they need from the vegetation they ingest.{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}} In the wild they generally eat any surrounding vegetation. When hatching, baby Uromastyx eat their own mother's feces as their first meal before heading off to find a more sustainable food source. They do this to establish a proper gut flora, essential for digesting the plants that they eat.

In the wild, adult U. dispar maliensis have been reported to eat insects at certain times of the year, when it is hot and their only food source available would be insects.{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}}

A female Uromastyx can lay anywhere from 5 to 40 eggs, depending on age and species. Eggs are laid approximately 30 days following copulation with an incubation time of 70–80 days. The neonates weigh {{convert|4|-|6|g|abbr=on}} and are about {{convert|2|in|cm|sigfig=1|disp=flip|abbr=on}} snout to vent length. They rapidly gain weight during the first few weeks following hatching.

A field study in Algeria concluded that Moroccan spiny-tailed lizards add approximately {{convert|2|in|cm|disp=flip|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} of total growth each year until around the age of 8–9 years.Vernet, Roland; Lemire, Michel; Grenot, Claude J.; Francaz, Jean-Marc (1988). "Ecophysiological comparisons between two large Saharan Lizards, Uromastyx acanthinurus (Agamidae) and Varanus griseus (Varanidae)". Journal of Arid Environments 14:187–200.

Wild female Uromastyx are smaller and less colorful than males. For example, U. dispar maliensis females are often light tan with black dorsal spots, while males are mostly bright yellow with mottled black markings. Females also tend to have shorter claws.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} In captivity female U. dispar maliensis tend to mimic males in color.{{cite web|url=http://deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Mali.htm|title=Deer Fern Farms Mali Uromastyx Page|website=Deerfernfarms.com|date=2009-01-13|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827132558/http://deerfernfarms.com/Uromastyx_Mali.htm|archive-date=2009-08-27|url-status=dead}} U. dispar maliensis are, therefore, reputably difficult to breed in captivity.

File:Pair of captive uromastyx.png

Uromastyx are removed from the wild in an unregulated manner for the pet and medicinal trade in Morocco, despite their protected status in the country; conditions of the animals while being sold is often extremely poor and overcrowding is common.{{cite web |author=Bergin, Daniel |author2=Nijman, Vincent |date=2014-11-04 |title=Open, Unregulated Trade in Wildlife in Morocco's Markets (PDF Download Available) |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267748463 |access-date=2016-01-07 |website=Researchgate.net}} Historically, captive Uromastyx had a poor survival rate, due to a lack of understanding of their dietary and environmental needs.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} In recent years, knowledge has significantly increased, and appropriate diet and care has led to survival rates and longevity approaching and perhaps surpassing those in the wild.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}} With good care, they are capable of living for over 25 years, and possibly as old as 60.

U. dispar maliensis, known as "ḍabb" ({{langx|ar|ضَـبْ}}) by peninsular Arabs, is historically consumed as food by some of the Bedouin population of the Arabian peninsula, mainly those residing in the interior and eastern regions of Arabia.{{cite web|url= http://www.arabnews.com/node/211413|title=Hunting 'dabb' in Al-Asyah|publisher=Arab News|date=2001-04-27|access-date= 2016-01-07}}{{cite web |url=http://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/196805/the.toad-head.from.najd.and.other.reptiles.htm |title=Saudi Aramco World: The Toad-Head from Najd And Other Reptiles |website=Archive.aramcoworld.com |access-date=2016-01-07}}{{cite web|url=http://americanbedu.com/2008/09/26/don%E2%80%99t-know-what-to-cook-how-about-dhub-%E2%80%93-traditional-saudi-beudion-dish/|title=Don't Know What to Cook? How About Dhub – Traditional Saudi Beudion Dish |website=American Bedu |date=September 26, 2008 |author=American Bedu}}{{cite web |url=http://muslimmatters.org/2008/07/10/sunnah-of-the-dhab-lizard-delicacy/|title=Sunnah of the Dhab Lizard Delicacy|website=Muslim Matters|date=July 10, 2008|last=Usman|first=Omar}} This lizard used to be considered an "Arabian delicacy".{{cite book|author=John P. Rafferty|title=Deserts and Steppes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=45htKs4GNi0C&q=najd+lizard&pg=PA55|date=January 2011|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-61530-317-5|pages=55–}} It is recorded that when an Uromastyx was brought to the Islamic prophet Muhammad by Bedouins, Muhammad did not eat the lizard, but Muslims were not prohibited by him from consuming it; thus Muhammad's companion Khalid bin Walid consumed the lizard.{{cite web|url=http://www.sahihmuslim.com/sps/smm/sahihmuslim.cfm?scn=dspchaptersfull&ChapterID=823&BookID=21 |title=SahihMuslim.Com|website=SahihMuslim.Com|access-date=2016-01-07}}{{cite book|author=IslamKotob|title=Sahih Muslim: Being Traditions of the Sayings and Doings of the Prophet Muhammad as Narrated by His Companions and Compiled Under the Title Al-Jami'-us-sahih : with Explanatory Notes and Brief Biographical Sketches of Major Narrators|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mo4oov5r3GoC&q=najd+lizard&pg=PT1242|year=1978|publisher=Islamic Books|pages=1242–|id=GGKEY:A3373925T9E}}{{cite web|url=http://www.religeo.com/qurhad/snew.asp?FullDet=Y&ad_atw=&ad_wno=&ad_ex=najd&ad_allw=&CurPage=6|title=Quran / Hadith English Translation - Search Engine|website=Religeo.com|access-date=2016-01-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224104008/http://www.religeo.com/qurhad/snew.asp?FullDet=Y&ad_atw=&ad_wno=&ad_ex=najd&ad_allw=&CurPage=6|archive-date=2015-12-24|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.imamfaisal.com/2011/10/27/ruling-on-different-types-of-lizards/ |title=Ruling on Different Types of Lizards |website=ImamFaisal.com |date=2011-10-27 |access-date=2016-01-07}}

In Judaism, this lizard is traditionally identified as the biblical tzav, one of the eight "creeping" animals forbidden for consumption that impart ritual impurity. The Torah states: “The following shall be impure for you among the creeping animals that swarm upon the earth: The weasel, and the mouse, and the dab lizard (tzav) of every variety; and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the skink, and the chameleon” (Leviticus 11:29-30).{{Cite web|url=https://steinsaltz.org/daf/shabbat107/|title = The Aleph Society- Let My People Know|date = 18 January 2013}}

• Animals in Islam

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• [http://www.exotic-pets.eu/lizards/ Information on some Uromastyx species]
• [http://www.digimorph.org/specimens/Uromastyx_hardwickii/ A digital library source from the University of Texas at Austin]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090224011037/http://www.herphouse.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=58 Detailed Uromastyx Care Sheet]
• [http://www.uromastyx.eu Uromastyx.eu]
• [http://deerfernfarms.com Dr. Doug Dix Uromastyx Page]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110117212154/http://urowiki.filecore.net/Main_Page The UroWiki]

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Category:Reptiles of Africa

Category:Reptiles of the Middle East

Category:Lizard genera

Category:Taxa named by Blasius Merrem

Category:Reptiles as pets