Strike a pose!
These fantastic looking Spiny-tailed or Dabb Lizards originate from Morocca, Egypt and the Sahara.
Animal Collections Manager John Meek comments "The male has been showing great interest in the two females. We have some eggs currently in the incubator and are keeping our fingers crossed that it will not be too long before they start to hatch. So watch this space for more news soon."
Their enclosure is situated at the top of the staircase on the top-flight of the open jungle rainforest exhibit in the Tropical House where you can see an array of wonderful exotic animals from Pygmy Marmosets to Rodrigues Fruit Bats.
The spiny and muscly tail is a useful defence against predators. Bedouin desert dwellers hunt this lizard due to the fat reserves stored in the tail. To survive in their natural habitat, spiny-tailed lizards use their thick, sharp tail as a weapon. They rarely need to drink as they extract most of their water from their food.
