Rocky slopes, rocks, gorges, huge boulders, ruins are the most likely places where you can meet such a mountain lizard as the Caucasian agama.
The habitat of this reptile extends to the territory of Turkey, Iran, Dagestan. Also a reptile is found in Afghanistan and the eastern part of the Caucasus.
Caucasian Agama: body shape and coloring
The reptile is large enough, the length of the body without a tail is about 15 cm, with a tail - 36 cm. The mass of an adult animal is up to 160 grams. The wide body, the base of the tail and the angular massive head of the Caucasian agama are flattened, the scales are characterized by different sizes and shapes: on the tail is located regular rings. The eardrum is located on the surface of the head. Caucasian Agama, the development of claws in which occurs from the base (as in mammals), has thin fingers. Reptile claws are erased and bent depending on the conditions of existence: the presence of natural shelters or their absence, soft or hard soil.
The abdomen of the animal is cream or light brown. A characteristic feature of this species is a dark marble pattern on the throat. In young specimens, a pattern of transverse stripes is clearly visible: dark and light.
Caucasian Agama is painted in brown or gray, which depends on the background of the environment. The reptile living on red sandstones is brown-red, on calcareous rocks gray-ash, the inhabitant of basalt rocks has a brown, almost black color.
Lifestyle
The animal is active until the fall - the beginning of winter. With the onset of a period of hibernation falls into a stupor. The body temperature indicator at this time varies from +0.8 о С to +9.8 о С. During a warm winter, the body temperature rises, and in January, waking up from a dream, the animal comes to the surface.
In its diet, the Caucasian agama is non-selective: it eats plant foods (fruits, seeds, flower buds, leaves), spiders, beetles, butterflies. Can use a small snake or a small lizard (even of its kind).
Despite the apparent slowness, the Caucasian agama is very agile, cleverly moves among stones and is able to jump from one to another at a distance of half a meter. Moving over the surface of the soil, it lifts its tail high; Climbing over the rocks, presses it to the stones, leaning on the tail spikes. Thanks to powerful paws and tenacious claws, it is able to stay on steep walls, steep slopes, smooth boulders.
In places of distribution, Caucasian agamas often catch their eye because of their multiplicity. In the morning hours (after sunrise) reptiles appear from shelters and take prolonged sunbathing, looking for potential prey along the way. As observation points, use steep slopes or blocks of stone, located on which, they observe what is happening around. In the process of observing the outside world, they periodically squat on their forelegs.
Hazard behavior
The Caucasian Agama, whose habitat is almost always connected with mountains and foothills, feels danger approaching at a distance of 20-30 meters. Turning toward the enemy, the excitement betrays with frequent tilts of the head. Letting the approaching object by 2-3 meters, it rushes to its refuge with lightning speed and, clinging to the stones located at the entrance, disguises itself. In case of extreme danger, the lizard hides in a shelter, it is not possible to extract it from where: the animal swells in size and clings to all sorts of scales with scales. There are cases of jamming of reptiles in a narrow gap and their subsequent death from depletion.
Caught Caucasian Agama, whose habitat extends to many territories, does not show resistance and falls into a half-fainting state. At this moment, you can do anything with the reptile: put it on your head, hang it by the tail, put it on your back - the agama will still remain motionless. It is possible to get an animal out of a state of stupor with a sharp sound (for example, a clap in the palm).
Mating period
The males are engaged in the observational process and the protection of the territory on which 1 to 4 females constantly live. In case of violation of the border by a male stranger, the owner of the site immediately attacks him. Such actions are quite enough for the "invader" to take flight.
Mating in Caucasian agamas begins after awakening (March-April) and lasts until mid-summer. The male pays attention to all the "ladies" living on his site and communicates with them even after the breeding season. Wandering males, which are most often young lizards, do not participate in breeding.
Breeding
The female produces masonry at the end of spring and summer in a rock fissure or a hole dug under a stone. During the season, 2 masonry is possible. The number of eggs (up to 2.5 cm in size) in the nest is from 4 to 14 pieces. In 1.5-2 months from the moment of laying, a new generation of such a unique animal as the Caucasian agama appears. The development of claws and other organs is quite active. Reptiles reach puberty in the 3rd year of life.
Caucasian Agama Migration
Basically, the Caucasian agama, whose habitat is also recorded on the territory of Armenia, Georgia, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, lives in a constant place. Sometimes, in search of deep reliable shelters to help survive the winter, the animal is forced to migrate. Since places suitable for wintering often find themselves occupied by the same individuals, with the advent of spring, the Caucasian agama returns to its territory. The problem of finding a place also arises in females of this species of lizards looking for a place for laying eggs. And since it’s quite difficult to find it among the rocks, mountain agamas sometimes overcome distances of several kilometers to find refuge with suitable conditions. Cubs hatching in the places of masonry winter there, and then settle on the territory.
