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. 2025 May 1;15(5):735.
doi: 10.3390/life15050735.

Daily and Seasonal Activity Patterns of the Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) in Northern Saudi Arabia

Monif AlRashidi  1 , Abdulaziz S Alatawi  2 , Sami Saeed M Hassan  3 , Mohammed Shobrak  4
Affiliations

Daily and Seasonal Activity Patterns of the Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) in Northern Saudi Arabia

Monif AlRashidi et al. Life (Basel). .

Abstract

The Spiny-tailed Lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia), a vulnerable species native to the desert and semi-desert regions of the Middle East, remains poorly understood, particularly regarding its daily activity patterns in northern Saudi Arabia. This study, conducted in the Ha'il region, aimed to examine these patterns, assess the influence of soil temperature on activity, and identify potential threats to the species. The results revealed that soil temperature significantly affected the lizard's activity patterns. During spring, Spiny-tailed Lizards were more active, spending around 25% of the day engaged in various behaviours, while their activity decreased to less than 20% in summer. In autumn and winter, the lizards did not follow a consistent daily activity, becoming active only when surface temperatures exceeded 35 °C. The absence of tracks and sightings in January suggests the species enters a state of complete brumation during this month. While no predation events were recorded via trail cameras, human disturbance from livestock and vehicles was observed in spring and summer. Although the disturbance was minor, reducing this type of human-caused disturbance should be taken into consideration when designing any protection programs. Furthermore, the long-term monitoring of this lizard's daily and seasonal activity patterns is recommended in order to better understand its adaptability to environmental changes, especially those driven by climate fluctuations.

Keywords: ectotherms; extreme environments; thermoregulatory behaviour.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Partial emergence, (b) basking, (c) leaving the burrow for foraging and other activities, (d) returning to the burrow, and (e) close-up view of the study species.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Variations in soil temperature between spring and summer (mean ± SE for each hour) in an open area approximately 2 m from the burrow entrance. Data were recorded over 21 days, with 13 days in spring and 8 days in summer.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Variations in (a) retreating underground, (b) partial emergence, (c) basking, and (d) foraging and other activities between spring and summer (mean ± SE for each hour). Data were collected from 21 individuals, with 13 recorded in spring and 8 in summer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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