Zambian Agama
( Branchi's Agama )
- Acanthocercus branchi
- IUCN Status: Least Concern
- Threat: harmless
- Venom/Toxin: none
- Trend: stable
General Information
The Zambian Agama is a recently identified species of agama lizard found in Zambia. It is morphologically similar to A. a. gregorii and A. a. loveridgei, but seems to be more closely related to the former
Description
It is a small agama lizard found in Zambia. It is differentiated from other Agama lizards in that it has transverse rows of enlarged scales on the body, large black patch on the shoulders, and a different pholidosis (or scale pattern).
Fun Facts
Agama lizards are Africa’s most dominant lizard species. They are ambush foragers and only spend 4% of their time moving. This involves an average of less than one movement in two minutes. Even though they are mostly stationary (42% on lateral branches, 35% on tree trunks and 23% on the ground) they can move extremely fast and are able to jump high when escaping. They are known to slowly change colour over-time either for dominance, camouflage or mating season.
Ecology & Behaviour
The Zambian Agama lizards are very dominant and aggressive. Males usually fight with other males. With agamas, their dominance in the group is determined through fights. A dominant male is brightly colored and this male enjoys the privileges of mating with females and also gets the best place to rest.
Conservation
It is categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a, ” Least Concern “.
Distribtion & Habitat
The new species is known from localities within the Luangwa (Chipata, Chikowa, Sayiri Court) and Zambezi (Lusaka) valleys in Zambia. It is endemic to Zambia.
This new species is a tree dweller as it is typical for agama lizrds although not for all subspecies. In Chipata, it was collected in the dense Miombo woodland with large trees and a structured canopy. In Lusaka, it was captured on a solitary tree. At both localities, other individuals were also observed, but it was not possible to identify them as males or females. Specimens from Pioneer Camp were observed while climbing on tree trunks.
This recently described species has been recorded from Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe (Wagner et al. 2012, 2018). Within Zambia, it has been recorded from localities within the Luangwa (Chipata, Chikowa, Sayiri Court) and Zambezi (Lusaka) valleys (Wagner et al. 2012). In Malawi, Wagner et al. (2012) report the species from Lilongwe, the Chongoni Forest Reserve, southeast of Lilongwe, and Chikowa. There are additional recent reports of the species from Ruwa near Harare, Zimbabwe (Wagner et al. 2012) and Manono, in the Katanga region of the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo far to the north of other known records (Wagner et al. 2018). The elevation limits for this species are not known.
Interaction With Humans
Agama lizards are persecuted in some areas due to a belief that they are harmful when infact they are not even though they do bite when confronted. It is believed that they are used by traditional doctors to make covert love potions.
References
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- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Order: Squamata
- Suborder: Iguania
- Family: Agamidae
- Genus: Acanthocercus
