Nape prickles
| Nape prickles | ||||||||||||
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Neck spike ( Acanthosaura sp. ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Acanthosaura | ||||||||||||
| Gray , 1831 |
The neck prickles ( Acanthosaura ) are a genus of agamas . They are characterized primarily by their spines in the neck and back area, as well as over the eyes. Of the four previously described species are Green acanthosaura ( Acanthosaura Capra ) and the Maskennackenstachler ( Acanthosaura crucigera ) the most famous.
distribution
The neck spikes are native to Southeast Asia , including countries such as Thailand , Vietnam and Cambodia . There they live in forests with thick vegetation. They owe their nickname "Little Water Dragons " to their love for flowing waters .
Appearance
All five species are about medium-sized and have a lively camouflage color, which comes into its own when the animals feel stress or in the morning when they want to warm up. The characteristic spines in the neck area can also be found in all species.
species
- Acanthosaura armata ( Gray , 1827)
- Green neck spike ( Acanthosaura capra Günther , 1861)
- Mask nape spike ( Acanthosaura crucigera Boulenger , 1885)
- Acanthosaura lepidogaster ( Cuvier , 1829)
- Acanthosaura nataliae Orlov , Truong & Sang , 2006
- Acanthosaura phuketensis Pauwels , Sumontha , Kunya , Nitikul , Samphanthamit , Wood & L. Grismer , 2015
Way of life
Compared to other Southeast Asian Baumagamenarten, such as the beautiful lizards ( Calotes ) that acanthosaura are extremely shy. Most of the time they take refuge in the thick undergrowth when they are discovered, or at least turn to the side of the tree on which they are sitting facing away from the viewer. However, if they are caught or see no way to escape, they inflate their throat pouches as a threatening gesture. Bites are rarely to be expected from the peaceful animals. Animals kept in captivity quickly get used to humans. In fact, they build so much trust that you can hand-feed them.
Neck spikes have a very varied diet, so they not only eat insects such as crickets or beetle larvae , but also spiders , earthworms , small fish and amphibians . Even the well-camouflaged stick insects , which are native to the same distribution area, are not spared as soon as they have given themselves away through an awkward movement.
literature
- Manfred Rogner : Lizards. Keeping, care and breeding in the terrarium. Volume 1: geckos, pinnipeds, agamas, chameleons and iguanas. Ulmer, Stuttgart 1992, ISBN 3-8001-7248-8 .