Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896

Kirchhof, Sebastian, Wasonga, Victor, Mazuch, Tomáš, Spawls, Stephen & Malonza, Patrick Kinyatta, 2023, An annotated checklist of the herpetofauna of the Sibiloi National Park in northern Kenya based on field surveys, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (e 324) 17 (1 / 2), pp. 1-18 : 6

Agama lionotus Boulenger, 1896

Vouchers: NMK-398L/1 ( SK 16 1038b), 399L/1–2 (field nos. SK16 1114–1115)

Distribution: AB ( R), petrified forest

Remarks: The distribution of this taxon is still uncertain in many parts of its range because of possible confusion with Agama agama (but not in Kenya), A. finchi , and A. dodomae ( Spawls et al. 2018) .

This agama was only found in Alia Bay (three individuals including one juvenile NMK-398L/1 ( SK 16 1038b)) and in the petrified forest ( NMK SK1115). In the absence of rocks, this species was entirely arboreal, living on Vachellia sp. trees in the riparian woodlands along the dry riverbeds. Only in the rock-dominated petrified forest site (about 5 km from Karsa Gate, the southern entry point of SNP) was this species rupicolous. We found Agama lionotus individuals ( Fig. 4B ) only between 1800 h and 2100 h. The average T b was 33.8 ± 1.7 °C (32.6–35 °C; N = 2) with T sub ranging from 30–34 °C and T a ranging from 32–35 °C.

Figures

Fig. 4. Reptile species recorded during the surveys: (A) Crocodylus niloticus; (B) Agama lionotus; (C) Agama rueppelli; (D) Holodactylus africanus; (E) Hemidactylus angulatus; (F) Hemidactylus barbierii; (G) Hemidactylus lanzai; (H) Hemidactylus ruspolii; (I) Homopholis fasciata; (J) Lygodactylus somalicus; (K) Stenodactylus sthenodactylus; (L) Heliobolus spekii; (M) Latastia longicaudata; (N) Philochortus rudolfensis; (O) Chalcides bottegi; (P) Mochlus sundevallii; (Q) Trachylepis striata; (R) Varanus albigularis; (S) Eryx colubrinus; (T) Platyceps brevis; (U) Psammophis cf. tanganicus; (V) Psammophis punctulatus; (W) Rhamphiophis rostratus; (X) Naja pallida; (Y) Bitis arietans; and (Z) Echis pyramidum.