Dave Taylor's African Safari: Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores - Reptiles

Trophic Level III: Omnivores and Small Carnivores
Reptiles
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There are a great many species of reptiles to be found in Africa’s tropical and sub-tropical environments. Most are never seen by tourists. This CD-ROM deals only with a few of the more common ones.

(Author’s note: In 10 weeks of photographing in Kenya and Tanzania, I saw only three snakes in the wild. One had been killed by a monitor lizard, the second killed by heron and the third, a green mamba, vanished quickly into the tree. Most people see snakes at snake farms set up for tourists who want to see snakes in safety.)

Red-headed Agama
Agama agama

Length: 40 cm (16 inches)

Status: Common. It is often found around farms, villages and houses.

Habitat: The red-headed agama is found on cliffs and kopjes throughout the savanna and in wooded grasslands of East Africa.

Food: Agamas eat termites, beetles, ants and other insects that live in their habitat. They have two fang-like teeth with which to grab prey.

The lizards can be quite bold and will approach a sleeping lion or gazelle and grab flies off the larger animal.

Social System: Agamas are common throughout East Africa. This genus of lizard is characterized by a flattened body and triangular-shaped head. The tail is long and round and pointed at the end. In Africa and Asia, there are sixty different species to be found. In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem, two races are most likely to be seen: the red-headed agama and the tree or blue-headed agama (A. atricollis).

The red-headed agama is found on kopjes and cliffs. The blue-headed agama is seen most often on trees. Both races are closely related.

Red-headed agama lizards often form colonies and it is common to see numbers of them around kopjes in the ecosystem..

Dominant male agama lizards are easily recognized. They have the brightly colored heads. Females are plainer and either dull green or brownish in color.

A male will mate with up to a half dozen females within its territory. His bright colors advertise his status and moods.

Like all cold-blooded reptiles, agama lizards need to control their body temperature by seeking warm spots in the early part of the day and towards evening. During these times they can be seen sunning themselves on rocky cliff faces. In the heat of the day, they seek shelter in crevices and other shaded places. They will remain active longer on cloudy days.

Behavior: After breeding, the female lays 3 to 12 soft-shelled eggs in a hole in the ground. She will do this only if she has been able to obtain enough protein from insects. Normally, she will lay her eggs only after the rains have brought out the hibernating insects. She can lay up to two clutches a year.

Males have been known to cannibalize young agamas.

Predators: A variety of birds of prey, such as bateleur eagles, will swoop down on any agama lizard that is careless enough to expose itself on the rocky cliffs. Mongooses, leopards, servals and other small predators will also eat them.

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