Burrow structure and site selection of the Mesopotamian Spiny-tailed Lizard, Saara loricata (Blanford, 1874) (Squamata: Agamidae) in Iran

Diet composition of omnivorous Mesopotamian spiny‐tailed lizards (Saara loricata) in arid human‐altered landscapes of Southwest Iran

“…However, small mammals and scorpions could enter lizard burrows at night and could be consumed opportunistically. According to Fathinia and Rastegar‐Pouyani ( 2011 ) and Ghaedi et al ( 2021 ), the Baluch Rock Geckos, Bunopus tuberculatus , Olivier's Agama, Trapelus ruderatus , and snakes sometimes live with S. loricata in the same burrow.…”

“…The Mesopotamian spiny‐tailed lizard (hereafter Mesopotamian lizard) Saara loricata (Blanford, 1874) is a desert dweller, one of the largest lizard species in the Middle East, and occurs in Southwestern Iran and Southeastern Iraq (Figure 1 , Anderson, 1999 ; Ghaedi et al, 2021 ; Kafash et al, 2016 ; Papenfuss et al, 2009 ; Safaei‐Mahroo et al, 2015 ). Anderson ( 1999 ) reported that Mesopotamian lizards tend to be completely herbivorous.…”

“…Moreover, it is important to study the feeding behavior of Mesopotamian lizards in Iran because their habitat has a high degree of human disturbance which may impact their diet. For example, about 20%–30% of areas in Western‐Southwestern Iran are suitable habitats for Mesopotamian lizards (Kafash et al, 2016 ; Rastegar‐Pouyani & Fathinia, 2015 ); however, these areas are mostly degraded and fragmented by human activities (e.g., overgrazing, cultivation, and oil mulching) (Elhaeesahar & Masoudi, 2018 ; Ghaedi et al, 2021 ; Mohammad Rahimi et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, the Mesopotamian lizards may provide important ecological benefits in the region through seed dispersal; however, we need a better understanding of whether the lizards may act as seed dispersers of native vegetation and which species of plants are likely to be dispersed.…”

“…However, Nazari-Serenjeh and Torki (2017) have mentioned predating some animal items by Mesopotamian lizards. The Mesopotamian lizard typically lives in burrows (typically one lizard per burrow) in arid lands with sparse vegetation, annual and perennial plant species, and its habitat is similar to that of the Egyptian spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia) in Western Asia (Ghaedi et al, 2021;Nazari-Serenjeh & Torki, 2017;Papenfuss et al, 2009;Wilms et al, 2009;Zohary, 1973). The Mesopotamian lizard in Iran predominantly occurs in human-altered landscapes such as farmlands (Ghaedi et al, 2021;Nazari-Serenjeh & Torki, 2017).…”