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Definition of shield-tailed agama
shield-tailed agama
Plural:shield-tailed agamas
shield-tailed agama Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A small burrowing lizard native to the arid regions of the Horn of Africa (such as Somalia and Ethiopia), characterized by a thick, flattened, and heavily scaled tail that it uses to plug the entrance of its burrow to block predators.
Example
"When threatened by a predator, the shield-tailed agama will dart into its burrow and use its tough, spiky tail as an impenetrable door."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The common name describes the lizard's physical adaptation of a heavily scaled, flattened tail used defensively like a shield. 'Agama' derives from Sranan Tongo, likely originating from a West African language term for a lizard.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shield-tailed agama. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shield-tailed agama