The Rainbow Agama, also known as the Rainbow Lizard, is a species of lizard in the Agamidae family, primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. It measures approximately 13-30 cm in length and has two subspecies characterized by triangular heads, robust bodies, long tails and limbs, small dorsal crests on the neck, and spiny flaps around the ear openings. Otherwise, this lizard has few other adornments. Its sides feature wing membranes supported by 5-7 pairs of elongated ribs, along with a well-developed gular sac and triangular lateral neck sacs. The body length is under 150 mm, with the tail being about 1.5 times the body length.
Rainbow Agamas are diurnal and inhabit tropical and subtropical forests at elevations of 700-1500 meters. They are often active in trees and rarely descend to the ground. While climbing trees to forage, their wing membranes fold fan-like against the dorsal side of the body; during gliding between trees, the membranes expand outward. Gliding allows direction changes but cannot propel them from lower to higher elevations.
