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Definition of spiny-tailed lizard
spiny-tailed lizard
Plural:spiny-tailed lizards
spiny-tailed lizard Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of several ground-dwelling, primarily herbivorous lizards, particularly those of the genus Uromastyx, native to the arid and desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East, distinguished by their thick, muscular tails covered in whorls of hard spikes.
Example
"When threatened by a predator, the spiny-tailed lizard often retreats into its burrow, leaving only its armored tail exposed to block the entrance."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A descriptive common name formed from the adjective 'spiny-tailed' and 'lizard', referring primarily to species in the genus Uromastyx, known for their heavily scaled, spiky tails used for defense.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Spiny-tailed lizard. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/spiny-tailed lizard