About Agama mwanzae Loveridge, 1923
The Mwanza flat-headed rock agama (Agama mwanzae) is also commonly called the Spider-Man agama, a nickname that comes from its distinctive coloration. It is a lizard species in the family Agamidae, native to Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya. This species inhabits semidesert regions, and is frequently seen basking on rocks or kopjes during the heat of the day. Mature males have bright red or violet coloration on their head, neck, and shoulders, paired with a dark blue body. Females are mostly brown, and are hard to tell apart from females of other agama species. Agama mwanzae is often confused with the related red-headed rock agama (Agama agama). Males of this species are highly territorial, and typically prefer to have around five breeding partners. After a male successfully attracts a female's interest, he courts her by performing distinctive head bobs and head swinging movements. Because the male's coloration resembles the comic book superhero Spider-Man, the species has become a popular fashionable pet.
