Mali Uromastyx

Looks how to spot one

Fine scales with a heavily spiked tail

A chunky desert agamid with a rounded head, full cheeks, a plump belly and a short, thick tail ringed with spiky scales. Mali males are usually bright yellow with black mottling, while females tend to be light tan with black spots on the back. Their colours look darker when cool and brighten as they warm up.43

Personality what they are like

A sun-loving, alert lizard whose personality varies from one animal to the next. Many settle into handling with patient, gentle effort, and captive-bred uros are usually calmer than wild-caught ones. If it feels cornered it relies on its spiky tail as a shield.34

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Active by day and at its busiest during the hottest hours. It enjoys basking, climbing on rocks and digging, so the enclosure should offer sturdy rock stacks and a substrate deep enough to burrow in.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide strong UVB lighting across about half the enclosure on the warm side. Keep fresh water available even though uros take in most of their moisture through food. Rated as a moderate-difficulty reptile.3

Home where they are happiest

Minimum enclosure of 120 x 60 x 60 cm (4 x 2 x 2 ft), front-opening with a mesh top. Very hot basking surface of 49-55 °C and a cool zone around 29 °C. Low ambient humidity of about 20-30%, with access to a more humid burrow.3

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Mainly herbivorous: around 90% leafy greens and edible flowers, about 5% hard vegetables and about 5% dry foods such as seeds or lentils. Juveniles are fed daily and adults four to five times a week.34

Company who they like around

Usually kept singly. Pairs or small groups are possible only in an enclosure at least twice the minimum size, but one lizard per enclosure is the simplest arrangement.3

The story where it all began

The species Uromastyx dispar was described by Heyden in 1827, and the Mali subspecies was named by Joger and Lambert in 1996. The genus name comes from Greek words for tail and whip, a nod to the spiked tail. Better understanding of their diet and desert climate has made uromastyx much more successful in captivity in recent decades.14

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Uromastyx dispar is listed as Least Concern.2

The Reptile Database

Uromastyx dispar Heyden, 1827, with four subspecies including U. d. maliensis Joger & Lambert, 1996, the form known as the Mali uromastyx.1