Black-necked Agama
Acanthocercus atricollis
Summary 3
The black-necked agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) is a species of tree agama that is native to East, Central and southern Africa. Its largest continuous range is in southeastern Africa, and it occurs at high densities in the Kruger National Park.
Diagnosis 4
Anal pores in two rows, distinct from single row in Agama atra & A. aculeata aculeata.
Dorsal scales have a strong tendency to form straight, vertical and transverse lines (distinct from other species?-except longitudinal lines in Agama armata).
Occipital not enlarged, usually smaller than the surrounding scales, distinct from Agama armata & other species? (Figure 1).
Snout with a few conical scales (distinct from other species?).
Cheeks are very swollen in adult males, less so in females (distinct from other species?).
Cheeks sometimes almost hide the ear (distinct from other species?).
Ear margin usually has few enlarged conical scales (distinct from other species?).
Nostril pierced just below the canthus rostralis, or just touching it with the upper edge, distinct from nostril on the canthus rostralis in Agama atra & A. aculeata aculeata, not distinct from Agama armata .
Crest present on the neck with series of enlarged keeled pointed scales, sometimes extending onto the anterior portion of back.
Limb scales are strongly keeled and mucronate (pointed) with keels forming regular curved lines (distinct from other species?).
Tail: Largest dorsalscales forming regular annuli, sometimes every three or four rows of scales on the side form an annulus with one or two rows of dorsal scales corresponding to 3 or 4 on the sides (distinct from other species?).
Ventral scales smooth, distinct from the strongly keeled and mucronate scales of Agama armata .
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Fingers : Third and fourth almost equal, fifth extending well beyond first.
Toes : Fourth very slightly longest, fifth considerably longer than first.
Anal pores in two rows. Colouration in spirits olive or brown above, yellowish beneath, sometimes reticulated with black. The enlarged scales of the back often lighter. Young specimens often grey with black X shaped markings above, and black annuli on the tail. In life, the adults are very different objects, their colours being much brighter, and capable of being changed at the will of the animal. When excited, the males have bright blue or green heads, backs and ventral surfaces. Females and young do not appear to show the green or blue tints to the same extent"
Gough, L. H. (1909). The South African species of Agama. Annals of the Transvaal Museum, 1(3), 183-194.
Sources and Credits
- (c) David Bygott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/86666094@N00/4380641753
- (c) calebcam, all rights reserved, uploaded by calebcam
- (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/705700
- (c) Alex Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/705700
