toad agama

Phrynocephalus is a genus which includes 36 species of small and medium-sized agamid lizards, commonly called toadhead agamas or toad-headed agamas, that inhabit open arid and semiarid environments of Asia and Eastern Europe. The systematics of this genus are very complicated with many controversial points of view about the unclear phylogeny of this group. All representatives of this genus have adopted the so-called "sit and wait" hunting strategy, and they actively use visual orientation when watching for food. In general, the ecological niche and role of Phrynocephalus species in lizard communities of arid environments of Asia are poorly studied but seem to be similar to those of Phrynosoma, Cophosaurus, Holbrookia, Uta, and Sceloporus in the New World, as well as Moloch in Australia.

==Species== The following 36 species are recognized as being valid. Phrynocephalus ananjevae – Natalie's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus arabicus – Arabian toadhead agama Phrynocephalus axillaris – Yarkand toadhead agama Phrynocephalus clarkorum – Afghan toadhead agama Phrynocephalus erythrurus – Sagus Kul lizard Phrynocephalus euptilopus – Alcock's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus forsythii – Forsyth's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus frontalis – Shansi toadhead agama Phrynocephalus golubewii Phrynocephalus guttatus – spotted toadhead agama Phrynocephalus helioscopus – sunwatcher toadhead agama Phrynocephalus hispidus – Dzhungar variegated toadhead agama Phrynocephalus horvathi – Horvath's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus interscapularis – Lichtenstein's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus kangsuensis Phrynocephalus kulagini – Kulagin's variegated toadhead agama Phrynocephalus lutensis – Lut Desert toadhead agama Phrynocephalus luteoguttatus – yellow-speckled toadhead agama Phrynocephalus maculatus – blacktail toadhead agama Phrynocephalus meridionalis – sunwatcher toadhead agama; Fergana toad-headed agama Phrynocephalus mystaceus – secret toadhead agama thumb|right|Phrynocephalus mystaceus in [[Astrakhan Oblast, Russia.]] Phrynocephalus ornatus Phrynocephalus persicus – Persian toadhead agama Phrynocephalus przewalskii – Przewalski's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus putjatai Phrynocephalus raddei Phrynocephalus reticulatus – reticulated toadhead agama Phrynocephalus roborowskii – Roborowski's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus rossikowi – Uzbekistan toadhead agama Phrynocephalus saidalievi – Fergana toad-headed agama Phrynocephalus sakoi Phrynocephalus scutellatus – gray toadhead agama Phrynocephalus strauchi – Strauch's toadhead agama Phrynocephalus theobaldi – Theobald's toadhead agama, toad-headed lizard, or snow lizard Phrynocephalus versicolor – Tuvan toadhead agama Phrynocephalus vindumi Phrynocephalus vlangalii – Ching Hai toadhead agama