Uromastyx ocellata Lichtenstein, 1823.

Length up to 175 mm. A large, strongly built lizard with a bulbous head; the neck and the flattened body are covered with small, uniform scales; limbs are strong; the tail is thick and short with whorls of spinose scales. The strong tail does not break off but can be used as a defensive weapon. The coloration varies considerably according to age, sex, and breeding condition. Dorsum of the adult breeding male is green, brightest on the head; the back has orange crossbars and black-edged white ocelli arranged in transverse bands; tail is yellowish-green; throat and underside of the neck are green with orange blotches; other ventral parts are whitish with a few greenish marks. The female is brownish with dark-edged ocelli on dorsum; throat is reddish. The Eyed Dab Lizard is a diurnal rock-dwelling lizard that is found in hot, arid, sparsely vegetated, mountainous desert. It is largely herbivorous but young animals feed on some insects in particular; acacia seems to be a favored food item. In Egypt, it is found in the mountains of the Eastern Desert and elsewhere it is distributed southward to Somalia and eastward to the western Arabian Peninsula. It is uncommon but widespread and is under heavy pressure from animal traders; it is probably one of the most sought-after reptiles in Egypt for the pet trade.