Taxonomic notes: An early record of Agama doriae, a species not otherwise known east of the Rift Valley, from Ogaden in Ethiopia is likely to be attributable to this species, but this requires confirmation (Largen and Spawls 2006).

This species ranges from the eastern desert of Egypt, through eastern Sudan, northern Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti to northern Somalia (where it has been recorded from the West Galbeed, Bari, Sanaag and Togdheer regions - Lanza 1990) (Baha El Din 2006, Sindaco and Jeremcenko 2008). It occurs around sea level (Djibouti) (Largen and Spawls 2010) to up to at least 1,665 m asl. (5,000 feet - Parker 1942).

In Egypt, this species is widespread at low densities with a patchy distribution (Baha El Din 2006). This lizard can be abundant in Djibouti, particularly around the periphery of villages on the plateau emerging from Fôret du Day (Ineich 2001). Appears to be the commonest agamid in the Awash National Park, Ethiopia (Largen and Spawls 2010).

This species is generally found in dry rocky mountainous or hilly regions (Baha El Din 2006), where it prefers vegetated wadis, at least in Egypt (Acacia scrub). It can tolerate fairly arid conditions (Baha El Din pers. comm). The species is found in higher altitudes in the northern parts of its range, but also occurs in lowlands, for example in its southern Egyptian range (Baha El Din 2006). In Djibouti it particularly favours open areas with little vegetation cover, and is mainly found around human habitation (Ineich 2001). It appears to exhibit a particular preference for piles of stones used as goat enclosures (Ineich 2001). In Ethiopia it occurs along the slope of the Awash Gorge, with reasonable amounts of exposed rock (Spawls). The breeding biology of this species is not well known. It is largely insectivorous, although it may eat some vegetable material.

This species is collected for the pet trade in Egypt.

In Egypt, this species appears to be locally threatened in parts of its range by collection for the pet trade. However, the trade volume and impact of this collection on the total population is unclear (Baha El Din 2006). It is locally threatened by quarrying in Egypt, and this threat is expected to become more important in the future. However, there is no indication that these are major threats to the wider population at this time.

• 3.2 Mining & quarrying
• 5.1.1 Intentional use (species is the target)

While there are no direct conservation measures for this species, there are protected areas within its range (e.g. Awash National Park, Ethiopia). There is a need for further research into population size and the impacts of harvesting on this species.

Agama spinosa is listed as Least Concern due to its wide distribution across northeastern Africa, and because it is not affected by any major widespread threats. There are localized and future potential threats to this species, such as collection for the pet trade and quarrying. Research into the trade of this species should be carried out in order to obatin harvest levels and assess their effect on the population size.

• Baha el Din, S. 2006. A Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Egypt. The American University in Cairo Press, Cairo - New York.
• Baha el Din, S.M. 2001. The herpetofauna of Egypt: species, communities and assemblages. PhD unpublished, University of Nottingham School of Biological Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
• Flower, S. 1933. Notes on the recent reptiles and amphibians of Egypt, with a list of the species recorded from that kingdom. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1933: 735-851.
• Lanza, B. 1978. On some new or interesting east African Amphibians and Reptiles. Monitore Zoologico Italiano 14: 229-297.
• Lanza, B. 1990. Amphibians and reptiles of the Somali Democratic Republic: checklist and biogeography. Biogeographia 14: 407-465.
• Largen, M. and Spawls, S. 2010. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
• Parker, H.W. 1942. The lizards of British Somaliland. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 91: 1-101.
• Saleh, M.A. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of Egypt. Publication of the National Biodiversity Unit, Cairo.
• Schleich, H.H., Kästle, W. and Kabisch, K. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Koeltz, Koenigstein.
• Sindaco, R. and Jeremčenko, V.K. 2008. The Reptiles of the Western Palearctic. 1. Annotated Checklist and Distributional atlas of the turtles, crocodiles, amphisbaenians and lizards of Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Edizioni Belvedere, Latina (Italy).