Reptile · GBIF taxon 5226316
Peters's Rock Agama
Agama picticaudaAlso known as African Redhead Agama, Peter's Rock Agama, Rainbow Agama
Dominant male Peters's rock agamas showcase vivid orange-red heads and deep blue bodies during peak daylight hours, while females and subordinate males display subtle mottled brown camouflage. These agile lizards spend sunny mornings head-bobbing and patrolling territories on concrete walls, rocks, and tree trunks before darting after insect prey. Highly adaptable to human development, established non-native populations now flourish across urban landscapes in Florida and the Caribbean.
DiurnalColorfulReptile
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Ants
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
Predators
- Hawks
- Snakes
- Domestic cats
ThreatsLocal eradication programs in introduced ranges and heavy urban traffic
HabitatsSavannas, rocky outcrops, urban walls, and suburban gardens
Life span3 to 6 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAgamidae
- GenusAgama
- SpeciesAgama picticauda
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of a nip if cornered or handled; observe comfortably from a short distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting: Look for brilliant red-headed males sunning themselves on concrete walls and tree bases during peak daylight.
- Approaching: Move slowly and avoid casting sudden shadows that trigger their rapid escape into nearby crevices.
- Observation: Watch from a few meters away to witness territorial push-up displays and energetic insect hunts.
Ecological Counterpart SchloughM / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Invasive "Green Iguana" by wwarby is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative Lennart Hudel / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
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