Red-headed rock agama (Agama agama)

While studying abroad in Kenya in the spring semester of last year I came across many cool herps.  The one shown in the picture above is the red-headed rock agama (Agama agama).  As the name implies these lizards are often found on rocks basking in the sun as this agama is doing here.  They are found in sub-Saharan Africa and can occupy a wide range of habitats such as urban, suburban, and in the wild.  Their size averages around 20cm for females and 25cm for males.  They are insectivores eating ants, grasshoppers, beetles and termites.  To hunt they use a sit and wait strategy and catch their insect prey with there tongue with the tip covered in mucous to help they to hold onto their small prey.  The brightly colored head of this agama is specific to breeding males.  During the breeding season males will acquire a red head and neck and a bright blue body, whereas when the breeding season is over they return to a brown color. Females and juveniles are much more cryptic then males and are brown in color all the time.  (Posted by Roland T. Lefebvre)