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Ornate Mastigure
Uromastyx ornata
A beautifully colored, diurnal agamid from the Middle East. Requires a large 120x60x60 cm arid enclosure with deep play sand, heavy rock structures, localized 45-50°C basking zones, and a solely herbivorous, low-moisture diet.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Agamidae
Subfamily:Uromastycinae
Genus:Uromastyx
Species:Uromastyx ornata
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
10 - 25 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Ambient temperature
35 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Basking spot
32 - 35 °C
Adult size
21 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 200 L
UVB
High
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the Middle East, specifically distributed across the Sinai Peninsula, southern Israel, western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. It inhabits extremely hot, arid rocky deserts, mountainous scree slopes, and deep wadis. They shelter inside deep rock crevices that provide protection against extreme temperature fluctuations.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belongs to the family Agamidae and the genus Uromastyx. It features a robust, dorso-ventrally flattened body with a short head and a distinctive heavy tail covered in sharp, keratinized spines arranged in regular whorls. This tail is used as a defensive shield. Adults typically reach a total length of 30-36 cm.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal, solitary, and highly thermophilic. Spends a significant portion of the day basking in direct sunlight to thermoregulate. If threatened, it quickly retreats into rocky cracks, wedge-blocking the entrance with its spiny tail. Males actively patrol and defend their territories from rivals.
Morphology: Exhibits striking sexual dichromatism. Mature males display vivid, high-contrast patterns of cobalt blue, emerald green, and bright yellow spots on their dorsal surface. Females have a much more cryptic coloration consisting of sandy browns, tans, and dull grays to blend in with the rocky desert surroundings.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a large, well-ventilated arid terrarium (minimum 120x60x60 cm for a single specimen). The enclosure should be built with heavy, secured rock piles to form deep caves and climbing ledges. A substrate of natural play sand mixed with clay is recommended to allow for natural digging behavior.
Lighting and Heating: Basking site heating is critical: a spot lamp must create a localized temperature of 45-50°C, while maintaining a warm ambient temperature of 32-35°C and a night drop to 20-22°C. High-intensity 10-12% UVB lighting is strictly mandatory to prevent calcium deficiency.
Humidity and Hydration: Humidity must be kept very low, ideally below 30%. Do not provide a standing water dish in the terrarium, as evaporation will raise humidity levels and cause dangerous respiratory infections or skin conditions. They obtain all necessary hydration from fresh green vegetation.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly herbivorous diet. Feed daily with fresh leafy greens (dandelion, endive, escarole, mustard greens) and edible flowers. Provide a permanent dish of dry seeds (red lentils, millet, split peas). Dust food with pure calcium carbonate twice a week and a multivitamin once a month.
Compatibility: Highly territorial and solitary. Adult males must never be housed together as they will fight aggressively, often causing severe injuries. A single male can be kept with one or two females only in a very large enclosure provided with multiple distinct basking sites.
Health and Common Diseases: Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is highly common if UVB lighting is insufficient or expired. Sand impaction is a risk if inadequate loose substrate is ingested. High humidity levels above 40% lead to tail rot, scale rot, and life-threatening respiratory diseases.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the Middle East, specifically distributed across the Sinai Peninsula, southern Israel, western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. It inhabits extremely hot, arid rocky deserts, mountainous scree slopes, and deep wadis. They shelter inside deep rock crevices that provide protection against extreme temperature fluctuations.
Origin
North AmericaEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 21 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 21 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 21 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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