This animal, also known as the spiny tailed lizard, lives in desert areas of Africa and Asia
with rocky or sandy areas that can support burrows.

They have a flattened, very wide, and muscular body, with a characteristic heavy spiked
tail used for defense against predators.

They are omnivores and active during the day.

At night they sleep in burrows with their spiky tails close to the entrance for protection.

They get most of their water from the vegetation they eat. Some of the plants contain a
very high salt content and the Uromastyx has developed salt glands in its nostrils to
eliminate the salt without losing the water. They sneeze salt!

These animals love the sun and can handle temperatures up to 150 degrees without any
water source. They can become darker in color to absorb sunlight and become lighter if they get too
hot.

They cannot detach their tail as a defense mechanism.

They will hibernate for 2 to 5 months in the winter.