Steppe Agama Trapelus sanguinolentus

The Steppe Agama is prevalent in the deserts and arid steppe of Kazakhstan, and probably elsewhere in Central Asia, although its relative, the similar Brilliant Ground Agama (T. agilis) also lives across the Middle East, northern India and elsewhere in Central Asia.

All but one (the last one) of the photos on this page were taken by Alexandra Makhnina in the Kzylkum Desert of Kazakhstan.

The Steppe Agama starts out like those above - well-camouflaged in its desert habitat. Adult males later lose the markings.

The adult male develops a bright blue throat and flanks (above) in the breeding season. This is similar to the males of its African relative, the Desert Agama (T. mutabilis) .

The bright red-orange colouring shown above is likely to belong to breeding females. The Desert Agama of Africa is mentioned since its breeding female develops an orange head.

The Agama above, photo taken by Elizabeth Barrett a couple of years earlier, is thought to be the Steppe Agama but that species usually has a more evenly-banded tail. Its head and body are like those of the Steppe Agama and it was living on the semi-desert/steppe of Kazakhstan.