Diagnosis

 

Agamura persica overhead

Agamura persica nasal scales

Agamura persica chin

Agamura persica tail from above

Agamura persica tail from below

Agamura persica (Duméril 1856), called Persian or blunt-tailed spider geckos, hail from semi-desert regions of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan where temperatures range from extreme summer day highs to extreme winter night lows. (1)(2)(3)(3) Their long, slender legs and tail give a spider-like impression and make them ideal for climbing the rocky environment they inhabit. Their toes are slender, clawed, and angularly bent.

Currently there is (unofficially) only one recognised species in the Agamura genus. Three other species, Agamura femoralis (Smith 1933), Agamura misonnei (De Witte 1973), and Agamura gastropholis (Werner 1917), have fallen into the Agamura classification at various times but have now been (unofficially) reclassified as Rhinogekko femoralis, Rhinogekko misonnei, and  Cyrtopodion gastrophole, respectively. (1)

Size: Females range from 42 to 77 mm (SVL) with a tail of 34 to 59 mm while males range from 35 to 65 mm with a tail of 27 to 59 mm (1)

Colour: Agamura persica has a light grey upper body with yellow pigment and 5 dark crossbars almost as broad as the interspaces, 9 to 10 on tail and flecked grey belly (1)(4)
Agamura p. persica is found in the eastern regions of their range (Eastern Iran, Afghanistan) and is differentiated by "three dark crossbars, first on nape, second behind shoulders, third in front of sacrum". (1)

Agamura p. cruralis is found in the western regions (most of Iran) and is differentiated by five darker brown dorsal crossbars, "first on nape, fifth on sacrum, nine to ten on tail. (1)

Natural history: Agamura persica inhabits rocky and stony terrain close to sandy semi-desert, on hill slopes, and barren plains. (1)(4) They are primarily nocturnal but can be found during the day basking at temperatures of about 17.5C (air) and 15.5C (surface), and active at temperatures as high as 44C (surface). (1)

Breeding: March to May, eggs are laid in June and juveniles appear in September (2)
 

It is very docile and easily captured. Some colour and morphological differences exist between localities but all are distinctly agamoid. While primarily nocturnal, Anderson suggests Agamura's "well-developed (but immovable) upper 'eyelid'" is an adaptation to diurnal life. The lid serves as a sort of "sunshade". (1)(2)

The following images are real-life images based on some of the drawings found in Szczerbak's and Golubev's "Gecko Fauna of the USSR and Contiguous Regions". Due to copyright issues I have not included these drawings but should you read this text, you will find the real-life images match the literature images perfectly.

Click on any image to see a larger view.

Other species:

Rhinogekko (Agamura) femoralis - Point-tailed Spider gecko: Light yellow grey with 5 dark bands across back and 8 to 10 on tail. Cylindrical tail abruptly shorter after basal portion and tapers to a tip. 5-6 preanal pores. Slender limbs shorter than Agamura persica. SVL 60-62 mm, tail 60-64 mm. Kharan, Baluchistan. (1)(2)

Rhinogekko (Agamura) misonnei - Long-nose Gecko: Nostrils on the end of a tube on the snout. Brown-grey upper body with 5 wide, dark bands across back and 7 on tail. Limbs with similar bands. Whitish under-belly. 4-8 faint preanal pores. SVL 56-61 mm, tail 58-73 mm. Dast-i-Lut Desert, Iran. (1)(2)

Cyrtopodion gastropholis - Farasian Spider gecko: Light sandy grey with dark brown spots forming bands across back, first on neck, sixth on sacrum. Tail also banded. SVL 43-47 mm. Fars Province, Iran. (1)(2)

References:

The Reptile Database (http://www.reptile-database.org)

(1) Anderson, S. C. (1999). The Lizards of Iran. Ithaca, New York: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.

(2) Szczerbak, N.N., Golubev, M.L. (1986). Gecko Fauna of the USSR and Contiguous Regions. Kiev: Naukova Dumka.

(3) Meyer, Michael (2004). Agamura persica - der Spinnengecko aus dem Mittleren Osten. Draco, 18(4), 59-63.

(4) Khan, M. S. (2006). Amphibians and Reptiles of Pakistan. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing.