# Ground Agama (*Agama aculeata*) The Ground Agama is a colorful lizard that loves to bask in the sun. It has a special ability to change its colors to blend in with its surroundings, making it a fun little creature to spot in the wild! - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Ground Agama](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ground_Agama_%28Agama_aculeata%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: SajjadF, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ground_Agama_%28Agama_aculeata%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Ground Agama is a medium-sized, robust lizard, typically greyish-brown with darker spots or stripes across its body. Males often display brighter orange or red heads and throats during breeding season, making them visually distinct from females. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Agamidae - **Genus:** Agama ## Interesting facts - Ground Agamas do push-ups to show off their strength or challenge other lizards! - Males will bob their heads and puff out their throats to impress females during courtship! - These lizards often climb rocks and trees to get a better view for hunting food. - They can run incredibly fast, sometimes on just their two back legs like tiny dinosaurs! ## Special abilities - **Mood Colors:** Ground Agama can rapidly change its skin color to communicate or blend into its surroundings because of special cells. - **Sun Power:** Ground Agama has to bask in the sun to warm up its body, which helps them move fast and digest food efficiently. - **Tail Escape:** Ground Agama can detach its tail when caught by a predator, which helps them escape to safety while the tail wiggles. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-14 - **Incubation:** 60-90 days ## Diet & Feeding A keen hunter of insects and other small invertebrates, occasionally munching on plant matter. - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Termites, Beetles, Grasshoppers, Caterpillars, Flowers - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Hunts for food from the sky. - **Eaten by:** [Cape Cobra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cape-cobra) (*Naja nivea*) — Ambush predator on the ground. - **Eats:** [Termite](https://www.snappit.app/explore/termite) (*Macrotermes natalensis*) — Feeds on abundant insect colonies. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Pounces on large, juicy insects. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch from a distance and don't try to catch lizards; they are best enjoyed in their natural home. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ground Agama? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Ground Agama? 15-30 cm ### How much does Ground Agama weigh? 0.05-0.2 kg ### How long does Ground Agama live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Ground Agama move? 20 km/h ### What does Ground Agama eat? A keen hunter of insects and other small invertebrates, occasionally munching on plant matter. ### Where is Ground Agama usually found? Grasslands ### How does Ground Agama hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Westside Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/westside-park) — South Carolina, US · Park ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Ground Agama: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ground-agama)