A Schmidt's Fringe-Toed Lizard Encounter at the Maleha Trail in Sharjah

 

The Schmidt's fringe-toed lizard is fast moving both on the sand and underneath vegetation 

Ready to run away or ready to hide from Mr. Samurai Bug?

The Schmidt's fringe-toed lizard is also called the white-spotted lizard due to the body markings

Rapid movement, agility and camouflage allows it to thrive in the desert

It was in an expedition at the Maleha Trail that I encountered this very fascinating lizard. I felt its sudden but quiet jerky movement underneath the vegetation. Upon spotting the lizard, I shifted to stealth mode to be able to observe it closely. It appeared as curious as I am and was not in a rush to run away as I was taking the photos. 

Distribution of the Schmidt's Fringe-Toed Lizard

The Schmidt's fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus schmidti) is highly adapted and present in the desert environments of the Arabian Peninsula (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain). It is also present in Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Kuwait. 

Descriptive Features of the Species

It derived its name from the 4th toe on its hind foot which is enlarged and has extended scales, giving it the comb-like fringe appearance. This "4th toe feature" enables the lizard to move rapidly on the sand. 

It is also called the White-Spotted lizard. The sandy-brown to tan colored dorsal portion of its body is covered with rows of white oval spots. The ventral portion is white and it has whip-like tail with a light colored tip.

Adult lizards can reach 18 to 20 cm long. 

Biodynamics Notes

They are oviparous (lay eggs that mature outside the females body).

Mainly insectivores, they burrow in the sand to escape from predators and the extreme temperatures of the desert. It also builds a burrow underneath shrubs and other vegetation.

A notable (and quite notorious) behavior exhibited by these lizards is that they always get involved in brawls with lizards of the same species. They are quite aggressive with each other and frequently get into skirmishes in defense of their territories! (Like watching a no-holds-barred UFC match of 4-legged, tan-colored desert warriors).

The Schmidt's fringe-toed lizard is so awesome! It was truly created with speed, agility, and the perfect camouflage for its desert environment. 

Awesome creature! AWESOME CREATOR!