Uromastyx hardwickii, Indian Spiny-tailed Lizard skull

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The spiny-tailed lizard, Uromastyx, belongs traditionally to the iguanian group Agamidae, although it is widely recognized as a basal taxon alongside Leiolepis. Found primarily in desert environments with both rocky and sandy terrain, Uromastyx inhabits North Africa from Morocco to Mauritania, extending eastward through Egypt and Sudan into the Middle East, covering the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Currently, 13 species are identified, including U. aegyptis (Egypt), U. acanthinurus (Morocco), and U. hardwickii (India, Pakistan) which may be among the more familiar ones. Uromastyx hardwickii Adults can grow up to at least half a meter in total length, exhibiting remarkable size variation. These lizards create large spiral burrows using their powerful claws. As omnivores, Uromastyx have a diverse diet, with young primarily consuming invertebrates while adults incorporate a significant amount of plant material into their diet. The skull of Uromastyx displays distinct features characteristic of agamid lizards: a reduced single premaxilla; strong anterior maxillary contact behind the premaxilla; single frontal and parietal with wide frontoparietal suture; strong preorbital pillar (prefrontal-palatine contact); palate palaeochoanate (i.e., without separation of the vomeronasal opening from the choana); and braincase exposed in dorsal view. Siebenrock (1895) identified two major skull types among agamids: the first, laterally compressed, is found primarily in arboreal genera; the second, wider and flattened, occurs mainly in terrestrial taxa like Uromastyx.