Reptiles
Rainbow Agama
Agama agama · also called common agama
On a tin roof in a West African town, a male rainbow agama bobs his head and does push-ups in the sun, his blue body and orange head blazing against the metal.
Overview
The rainbow agama, Agama agama, is a Least Concern lizard of savanna, scrub, rocky ground, and towns across West, Central, and parts of East Africa. Its brilliant colours, push-up displays, and group-living lives make it one of the most conspicuous lizards in Africa.
A lizard with a harem
A rainbow agama group is led by one dominant male, who defends the best perches, and he is the only one in the group to wear the full blue-and-orange colours.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common.
Rainbow Agama: common questions
Why is it called the rainbow agama?
It is named for the bright colours of dominant males, which have a blue body and an orange to red head.
Why do rainbow agamas do push-ups?
Males display with rapid push-ups and head bobs to signal dominance and warn rivals.
How do rainbow agamas live?
They live in groups led by one dominant male, with several females and subordinate males sharing a territory.
Where is the rainbow agama found?
It lives in savanna, scrub, rocky ground, and towns across West, Central, and parts of East Africa.