Uromastyx aegyptia

Common names for U. aegyptia include Egyptian mastigure,^[3] Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard,^[1] and, when referring to the subspecies Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni (see below), Leptien's mastigure.^[3]

U. aegyptia is one of the largest members of its genus, with an average total length (including tail) of 76 cm (30 in) for males.^{[citation needed]}

U. aegyptia can be found in Egypt east of the Nile,^[1][4] Israel, Syria, Jordan, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Iran. It has a patchy distribution and is rare in most parts of its range. It is believed to be in decline because of habitat loss and over-harvesting.^[1]

Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[3]

• Uromastyx aegyptia aegyptia (Forskål, 1775)
• Uromastyx aegyptia leptieni Wilms & Böhme, 2000
• Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis Blanford, 1874

The subspecific name, leptieni, is in honor of German herpetologist Rolf Leptien.^[5]

U. aegyptia is locally known as dhab or ḍabb (Arabic: ضب). Its strong skin made good leather for the bedouins, while its meat was often considered as an alternative source of protein.^[6]

U. aegyptia lives in open, flat, gravelly, stony, and rocky areas at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level.^[1]