Uromastyx aegyptia is a species of lizard in the family Agamidae. The species is endemic to North Africa and the Middle East.

Common names

Common names for U. aegyptia include Egyptian mastigure, Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard, and, when referring to the subspecies Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni (see below), Leptien's mastigure.

Description

U. aegyptia is one of the largest members of the genus, with average lengths of 76 cm for males.

Geographic range and conservation status

U. aegyptia can be found in Egypt east of the Nile, Israel, Syria, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Iran. It has a patchy distribution and is rare in most parts of its range. It is believed to be in decline because of habitat loss and over-harvesting.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Etymology

The subspecific name, leptieni, is in honor of German herpetologist Rolf Leptien.

Economic use

U. aegyptia is locally known as dhab or ḍabb. Its strong skin made good leather for the bedouins, while its meat was often considered as an alternative source of protein.

Habitat

U. aegyptia lives in open, flat, gravelly, stony, and rocky areas at elevations up to 1500 m above sea level.