- Where to see one
- 3 U.S. zoos in our directory hold ornate uromastyx, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the ornate uromastyx
The ornate uromastyx, or ornate mastigure, is a medium-sized agamid lizard that reaches about 35 cm in total length. It is endemic to the Middle East and lives in rocky areas of Egypt, southern Israel, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It is among the most colourful members of its genus, basically greenish with yellowish rings, and has a long, spiny, slightly flattened tail. Males show green, blue or red backs with brown bands and yellow spots, while females are duller, light brown with pale yellow lines. Active by day, it lives alone or in small groups of one male and several females, digs burrows up to 1 metre deep and is mainly herbivorous.
Ornate Uromastyx facts
- Males and females differ in colour, and adult males become very colourful in the breeding season.
- Its tail is formed by 20 to 23 segments and is very spiny.
- Burrows can be up to 1 meter deep.
- The subspecies name philbyi honours the British Arabist Harry St. John Bridger Philby.
Where to see ornate uromastyx in the U.S.
3 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 3 zoos holding ornate uromastyx by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
California· 1
North Carolina· 1
Virginia· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
