Roughtail Rock Agama

Stellagama is a distinctive genus of lizards, with its sole species being Stellagama stellio, commonly referred to as the starred agama or roughtail rock agama. This intriguing reptile is known by various names, including dikenli keler, hardim, hardun, kourkoutas, kourkoutavlos, painted dragon, short-toed rock agama, sling-tailed agama, star lizard, and stellion. These lizards are found in regions of Greece, Cyprus, Western Asia, Northern Egypt, and have also been introduced in Malta.

These lizards can grow up to 35 cm in length and possess the remarkable ability to change their color according to their mood. They prefer rocky habitats and are frequently observed basking on stone walls, rocks, and trees. Despite their preference for these open areas, they are quite skittish and will swiftly hide in crevices to evade predators. The name "stellion" has an intriguing origin; it is derived from the Latin word "stellio" which referred to any spotted lizard, stemming from "stella" meaning star.

Stellagama stellio is quite complex and is considered a species complex, meaning it might actually comprise multiple distinct species. Currently, several subspecies are recognized, including Stellagama stellio brachydactyla, Stellagama stellio cypriaca, Stellagama stellio daani, Stellagama stellio picea, Stellagama stellio salehi, Stellagama stellio stellio, and Stellagama stellio vulgaris. If the subspecies name is in parentheses, it indicates that it was originally described under a different genus. More research is needed to fully understand the diversity within this fascinating group of lizards.