FIVE baby lizards have arrived at Marwell Zoo.
The starred Agama hatchlings, also known as painted dragons, have been born into the zoo.
The babies have joined their parents in the arid lands exhibit, close to Café Graze.
The species of lizard are found in Egypt and the Near and Middle East.
They can tolerate extremely hot weather but also experience cold winters.
After the cooling period, the adults tend to mate in early March.
Dan Garrick, Marwell’s lead keeper for Herptiles, said: “We suspect the female laid the eggs around mid-April. She was showing signs of being gravid (carrying eggs) and looking to nest somewhere.
“Whilst the parents do not exhibit any direct parental care, like feeding the young, they will tolerate the juveniles until they start to show signs of sexual maturity. This could be as soon as one year of age.
“The juveniles are predominantly insectivorous. At Marwell, they are being fed pea aphids, fruit flies, tropical woodlice, small crickets, and similar.
“The adults are omnivorous, they eat flowers, leaves, fruit, and insects. As the juveniles grow, they will start to eat different foodstuffs also.”
For the first time, the zookeepers will raise the new hatchlings in the same enclosure as their parents.
Dan said: “We have not reared the young with the adults before so it will be interesting to observe the behaviours in the group.”
Starred agamas are listed as being of Least Concern on the IUCN red list but in Egypt the population has recently been declining.
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