Burrowing Behavior of Spiny Tailed Lizard (Uromastix Hardwickii Gray) in South-Western Rajasthan, India

Abstract

The burrowing behavior of the spiny tailed lizard (Uromastix hardwickii Gray) was studied in its natural haunts in north-western part of Rajasthan, India during the year 2007. This animal prefer, excavating its burrow in the vicinity of its preferred food plants. The male and female burrows are almost alike externally and internally in shapes and size. Each burrow has one exit hole. There are two chambers in each burrow. The first one is at a distance of 8 to 10 cms. (Av. 8.63 cms) in case of males and in case offearnles it was 8 to 9 cms (Av. 8.1 cms) from the burrow openings. This chamber is known as observation chamber. The animal spend most of its day time in this chamber watching for their predators. They go out for grazing when it is safe outside. The second chamber is located at a distance of 60 to 230 cms (Av. 142.68 cms) from burrow opening in males. In case of females, this chamber is located at a distance of 80 to 241 cms (Av. 154.37 cms). This chamber is known as roosting chamber. The animals rest in this chamber during night and also in the day when it is hot outside. The females lay eggs in this chamber. Many species of the lizards live in burrows dig by other animals. There are however, few which live in the burrows dug by them. Cogger (1965) reported that Eugernia kintorei (Skink) construct family burrows up to two meter deep and more than six meter long with multiple enterences. The Eumeces schneideri dig burrows 45-60 cms long which contain right angle bend at few centimeters beneath the surface. These burrows also occasionally contain a second right angle bend (Blanford, 1876; Ingoldby and Proctor, 1923).