Earlier this week, under the scorching heat of the southern Arava region, an Israeli photographer managed to catch a rare snapshot of the rare spiny-tailed lizard.
Oren Korin, head of the Western Arava Agricultural Association, spotted the gigantic reptilian in the fields of moshav Hazeva near Qidron Stream and was quick to pull out his camera and document the rare occurrence.
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A spiny-tailed lizard, also called Uromastyx aegyptia by its scientific name, in the Arava region in southern Israel
(Photo: Oran Korin)
This is the first time in almost a year that an individual of this species, called uromastyx aegyptia by its scientific name, had been spotted in the wild.
The spiny-tailed lizard is the largest of its kind in Israel as its length averages around 76 centimeters (30 inches) in males and it could weigh up to three kilograms (6.5 pounds).
It is only active in arid climates and requires a body temperature of 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) to leave its burrow.
It spends most of its waking hours basking in the sun, hiding in underground chambers at daytime, or when danger appears. It tends to establish itself in hilly, rocky areas with good shelter and accessible vegetation.
This large lizard can be found throughout the Middle East, but its numbers are dwindling due to human presence biting off large chunks of its natural habitats, illegal trade, and collisions with vehicles.
During the 2019 Arava Planet Photography Festival, which aims to showcase the natural beauty of the region, photographer Oded Peretz managed to capture two male spiny-tailed lizards in their natural habitat fighting.