. Bonner zoologische Beiträge : Herausgeber: Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Biology; Zoology. 260 Thomas M. Wilms et al.: Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizards in Saudi Arabia. Fig. 1. Adull UiDDuistyx iicg\¡>lia micmlepis at Mahazat as-Sayd, Saudi Arabia. Photo: T. W il .\is. The primary production of Uromasha habitats is quite low and exhibits strong seasonal and annual differences. There- fore it is somewhat surprising that Uromastyx aegyptia, as all other species of the genus, is primarily herbivorous (Mandaville 1965, Kevork & Al-Uthman 1972, Al- Ogily &a
. Bonner zoologische Beiträge : Herausgeber: Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Biology; Zoology. 260 Thomas M. Wilms et al.: Arabian Spiny-tailed Lizards in Saudi Arabia. Fig. 1. Adull UiDDuistyx iicg\¡>lia micmlepis at Mahazat as-Sayd, Saudi Arabia. Photo: T. W il .\is. The primary production of Uromasha habitats is quite low and exhibits strong seasonal and annual differences. There- fore it is somewhat surprising that Uromastyx aegyptia, as all other species of the genus, is primarily herbivorous (Mandaville 1965, Kevork & Al-Uthman 1972, Al- Ogily & HussAiN 1983, Bousicila 1984 & 1987, Robin- son 1995). Nevertheless remains of beetles (Tenebrion- idae, Carabidae), ants, grasshoppers and even scorpions are also found in the stomach contents as well as in fecal pellets of all age classes (Kevork & Al-Uthman 1972, Wilms 2007, pers. obs.). However, the proportion of animal matter in the food is very low and was estimated to be only about 1-2 % of total food intake. The present paper analyzes the seasonality of activity and body condition in this species which is induced by the aforementioned environmental variability. A second focus was put on the selection of habitat stnictures by Uromastyx a. miciolepis. This study was cairied out on free ranging populations of Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis at Mahaz- at as-Sayd Protected Area, Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods Study Site All fieldwork was carried out within the boundaries of Ma- hazat as-Sayd Protected Area, Saudi Arabia, which has been protected since 1989. Mahazat as-Sayd (22° 15' N, 41° 50' E) is located in central-western Saudi Arabia, ap- proximately 170 kilometers north-east of Taif The reserve is Saudi Arabia's only completely fenced wildlife reserve and is a reintroduction site for Houbara Bustards {Chlamy- dotis imdulata macqueenii), Arabian Oryx {Oryx leuco- }yx) and Sand Gazelles (Gazella subgiitturosa). Mahazat as-Sayd covers an area of 2244 km-
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