Wildlifeof China
Ching Hai Toadhead Agama
Agamids & Forest Lizards
Photo: Shizhao · CC BY-SA 3.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Phrynocephalus vlangalii
China Red List: Least Concern (LC)
Basic stats
Habitat
Self-dug burrows at high elevation, 2,000–4,600 m
Range
Tibetan Plateau, China: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and north-west Sichuan
Size
Snout-vent length up to 80 mm
The Qinghai toad-headed agama (Phrynocephalus vlangalii) is a viviparous agamid endemic to the Tibetan Plateau in China, with records in Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and north-western Sichuan. It lives in burrows at 2,000–4,600 m. (The Reptile Database; Wikipedia, general species account)
It grows up to 80 mm snout-vent length and digs burrows about 70 cm into sand as refuge from predators and cold. As a defence display it curls its tail and shows a patch on its belly. Males have black tail tips and females orange ones, and adult males tend to have larger heads and tails while females have larger bodies. It is known for aggression, especially between females in the mating season. (Wikipedia, general species account)
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Ching Hai Toadhead Agama live in?
- Self-dug burrows at high elevation, 2,000–4,600 m
- Where is the Ching Hai Toadhead Agama found?
- Tibetan Plateau, China: Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and north-west Sichuan
- How big is the Ching Hai Toadhead Agama?
- Snout-vent length up to 80 mm