The Vibrating Lizard

Laungwala toad-headed agama (Bufoniceps laungwalaensis)

In Thar desert of Rajasthan, when you notice a trail on the dunes like this,

then you would most likely find an interesting creature at the end of the trail, the Laungwala toad-headed agama.

The Laungwala toad-headed agama is an agamid lizard found in Thar desert regions of India. This is a tiny lizard species which are found predominantly in sand dunes. These are active during day time, but hot sun is a problem in desert, especially on sand dunes. But this agama has its own style of survival. It has a peculiar way of beating the heat by vibrating and burying itself into the sand. Its funny to watch it vibrating and vanishing right in front of our eyes.

This agama has bright blue patches on its shoulders during its breeding season.

They also have unique morphological characteristics (structure of body), for example, its eyes are covered with extra scales that can protect it from sand carried by wind.

Another interesting behaviour of this lizard is its camouflage, the way it unbelievably blends with the sand.

When it buries itself in sand, it can still see the surroundings for any danger.

When the sun is setting...

it buries itself again, hoping for a better tomorrow!

This tiny lizard rules the dunes in Thar and is a favourite subject for people who are interested in herpetology around deserts.