10 August 2016

Yemen Rock Agama – Bani Saad

Whilst birdwatching in the Taif area of western Saudi Arabia I came across a few Yemen Rock Agama Acanthocercus yemensis. The Yemen Rock Agama occurs in northern Yemen and adjacent Saudi Arabia, but the limits of its distribution in Saudi Arabia are currently not well known. It occurs from around 2,000 to 3,000 metres above sea level mainly in rocky habitats. They occur both on the ground and climbing rocky surfaces, and including stone-walls and human habitations. These individuals were at 1950 metres above sea level and well north of where I have seen them previously. One of them has prickly pear spines stuck in it as it was living in rocks with the plants growing nearby.
Yemen Rock Agama

Yemen Rock Agama