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BLUE HEADED AGAMA LIZARD

This male Agama lizard was quite visible with his bright iridescent head sitting on a cairn of rocks in the De Hoop Nature Reserve enjoying the late afternoon sun. He was fearless in his position as I approached, nodding his head up and down but capable of darting into the cracks of the rock pile if threatened by an eagle or other predator. His head colour was extraordinary and very eye catching, just what he needed the females to see.

Southern Rock Agama lizard - Agama atra

The southern rock agama is a species of lizard from the family Agamidae that occurs in Southern Africa. It lives in small colonies on rocky outcrops, and the males are very conspicuous for their bright blue heads. This rather sociable agama is normally found in small groups or colonies. It grows up to about 25cm and has a thin dorsal crest that runs the length of its body. During the breeding season, the heads of the males become bright blue. The males also take to sitting on top of prominent rocks and are therefore a common sight in mountainous areas of South Africa. These active, diurnal lizards normally hunt small insects such as ants and termites. They have some ability to change colour, although not to the same extent as chameleons.

Nikon D7000 Nikkor 105mm F2.8 Macro, F32 @ 1/640th sec, ISO 2500.
Taken by hand on the Whale Trail in De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Photograph by Andrew Woodburn