S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
The use of spiny-tailed lizards Uromastyx spp. for medicinal purposes in Peninsular Malaysia
Or Oi Ching and Serene C.L. Chng by the required CITES export permits. A study on CITES data trade records of Uromastyx spp. reported over 200 000 INTRODUCTION specimens traded internationally, with an increasing trend DIWHU .QDSS 6SLQ\WDLOHG OL]DUG VSHFLHV DUH piny-tailed lizards Uromastyx spp. consist of 20 also protected by national laws in many range countries. recognized species that inhabit the deserts and Unregulated and unsustainable hunting of spiny-tailed semi-deserts from northern Africa across the lizards may adversely affect the ecosystem (Yom-Tov, Middle East to north-western India (Wilms et al., DVWKH\DUHDQLPSRUWDQWSUH\VSHFLHV &RQVHUYDWLRQ 2009; Wilms, et al., $OVRNQRZQDVGDEERU ,QGLD DQGWKHLUEXUURZVVHUYHDVWKHUPDOUHIXJHV Sdhab lizards, they are hunted and traded for their purported for many other species (Wilms et al., 7KHVHOL]DUGV medicinal value, as well as for meat and for the pet trade feed on plants and insects, providing some degree of pest (Mahmood et al., 2011; Subramanean and Vikram Reddy, control, and are also scavengers (Castilla et al., 2011; 2012; Wilms et al., 2012; Das et al., 2013; Pradhan et al., 6XEUDPDQHDQDQG9LNUDP5HGG\ /DUJHQXPEHUVDUHWDNHQIURPWKHZLOGLQ6DXGL$UDELD DQGVROGWRPLGGOHPHQIRUDURXQG6$5± 86' ± BACKGROUND 86' 1 $QRQ )DL]D 3RDFKLQJ WHFKQLTXHV include pouring water or blowing smoke into burrows to The sale of spiny-tailed lizard parts and products used for force animals out, or shooting them with guns (Reuters, 2013; traditional medicine LQ3HQLQVXODU0DOD\VLD¿UVWFDPHWR )DL]D 7KHOL]DUGVDUHRIWHQNHSWDOLYHXQWLOGHOLYHU\ TRAFFIC’s attention in the early 1990s, when instances to slaughterhouses, with their spines often broken to prevent were reported by concerned members of the public WKHPIURPHVFDSLQJ &RQVHUYDWLRQ,QGLD )DL]D &56KHSKHUGSHUVFRPP DQGZHUHREVHUYHG Of the known Uromastyx species, eight are listed in the by TRAFFIC staff, with night market stalls selling the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with two assessed products sometimes displaying boards explaining the as Vulnerable, three as Near Threatened and three as Least lizard’s purported medicinal values (S. Broad pers. &RQFHUQ ,8&1 7KH HQWLUH Uromastyx genus has FRPP 6XFK SURGXFWV KDYH UHSRUWHGO\ EHHQ been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International promoted in Malaysia since at least 1995 as a treatment Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora for over 20 critical illnesses such as diabetes, heart &,7(6 VLQFH SURKLELWLQJLQWHUQDWLRQDOFRPPHUFLDO disease, hypertension, gout, kidney problems and sexual trade in wild specimens of the species unless accompanied G\VIXQFWLRQ 8WXVDQ0HOD\X )LJ
Fig.1. Material distributed in Malaysia promoting use of spiny-tailed lizard-based traditional medicine as a treatment for over 20 critical illnesses.
1Exchange rate of USD1=SAR3.75 (OANDA, September 2015). TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 in Peninsular Malaysia, Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998 in Sarawak and Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 in Sabah. In Peninsular Malaysia, where the trade is observed in this study, any violation of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 FDUULHVD¿QHRIXSWR0<5 86' DQGRU two years’ imprisonment. The penalty is higher where immature or female specimens are involved. Furthermore, under the Sales of Drugs Act 1952, all pharmaceutical products for sale in Malaysia, including traditional medicines, require compulsory registration with the Drug Control Authority under the Ministry of Health’s 1DWLRQDO 3KDUPDFHXWLFDO &RQWURO %XUHDX 13&% 7KH Medicines (Advertisement and Sale Act 1956 requires OR OI CHING / TRAFFIC OR OI CHING / Fig. 2. Spiny-tailed lizard-based products displayed and that all medicines for sale list all active constituents and promoted at the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture ingredients in English or Bahasa Malaysia. and Agrotourism Fair, 2014. 3LFWXUHVKRZVVNLQVFDSVXOHV FRIIHHPL[OLYHDQLPDOVDYLGHRVKRZLQJKRZVSLQ\WDLOHGOL]DUGV METHODS DUH EHLQJ FDSWXUHG LQ WKH ZLOG DQG D SKRWR ERRN GHVFULELQJ KRZWKHDQLPDOLVIXUWKHUSURFHVVHG The availability of spiny-tailed lizard-based products used for medicinal purposes in Kuala Lumpur and the In 2012, a vendor was reportedly offering spiny-tailed State of Selangor was assessed between January and lizard-based products at the biennial Malaysia Agriculture, June 2015. These areas were selected due to previously +RUWLFXOWXUHDQG$JURWRXULVP 0$+$ )DLU'XULQJDYLVLW reported cases of spiny-tailed lizard-based products E\WKH¿UVWDXWKRUWRWKH0$+$)DLULQWKHYHQGRU being offered for sale, and based on background research was found promoting such products, including capsules, identifying the highest number of distributors there. oils, dried skins and coffee-mix sachets, along with six live An internet search in Malay and English of websites MXYHQLOHVSLQ\WDLOHGOL]DUGV )LJVDQG 2U2&SHUV in Malaysia on the availability of spiny-tailed lizard REV :KHQDVNHGWKHYHQGRUVWDWHGWKDWDQLPDOVXVHGIRU SURGXFWVZDV¿UVWFRQGXFWHGXVLQJNH\ZRUGVFRPPRQO\ medicinal production were wild-caught Egyptian Spiny- referenced for such products: “Ubat Dhabsinai” tailed Lizards Uromastyx aegyptia sourced from Egypt, and 'KDEVLQDL PHGLFLQH DQG “ubat dhab” and “dhab that no successful commercial captive breeding facilities sinai”, both of which refer to Uromastyx-based medicine. currently exist. In 2013, TRAFFIC received photographs From this search, a total of 143 spiny-tailed lizard product from an anonymous source showing a roadside vendor distributors were found and contacted directly by phone. selling spiny-tailed lizard-based products and displaying Researchers used semi-structured methods to enquire live spiny-tailed lizards at the National Mosque compound about spiny-tailed lizard products sold. in Kuala Lumpur. Rapid market surveys were then conducted at These ad-hoc reports of trade led to a more locations (Kota Damansara, Shah Alam, Masjid Jamek comprehensive study by TRAFFIC in 2015 to assess DQG &KRZ .LW ZKHUH UHVHDUFKHUV SRVLQJ DV SRWHQWLDO the uses and legality of spiny-tailed lizards traded for buyers, investigated traditional medicine shops and night medicine in Malaysia.
LEGISLATION
In Malaysia, federal laws apply across the nation and take precedence over State laws enacted by State Legislative Assemblies. However, under the constitution of Malaysia, some federal laws are applied differently in Sabah and Sarawak on a number of matters, such as national resource management. As CITES-listed species, international commercial trade in spiny-tailed lizards is regulated by the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 IHGHUDOODZ ,QGLYLGXDOVYLRODWLQJWKLV$FWFDQEH¿QHG up to MYR100 0002 86' RUVHQWHQFHGWRVHYHQ years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction. Spiny- tailed lizards are further protected as a genus under the TRAFFIC OR OI CHING / Fig. 3. A live sub-adult Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia displayed at the MAHA Fair, 2014. 2Exchange rate of USD1=MYR3.78 (OANDA, June 2015). 7KLVVSHFLHVLVSUHIHUUHGIRUPHGLFLQDOXVHGXHWRLWVODUJHVL]H
36 TRAFFIC Bulletin 9RO1R S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
ITEMS PRICE PER ITEM
Kuala Lumpur1 Selangor1 MAHA 20142
MYR USD MYR USD MYR USD
/LYHDQLPDO 1$ 1$ 1$ 1$ A 0HGLFDWHGRLO PO ² ² 1$ 1$ &DSVXOHV FDSVXOHV ² ² ² ² )DWV ² ² ² ² 1$ 1$ &DSVXOHVZLWKDGGLWLRQDOKHUENQRZQDV 0DQMDNDQL ² ² ² ² 1$ 1$ &RIIHHPL[ EHYHUDJH 1$ 1$ 1$ 1$
Table 1. Advertised prices of spiny-tailed lizard-based products recorded in this study from market surveys, direct communications with distributors and at the MAHA Fair, 2014. A$SULFHZDVTXRWHGHYHQWKRXJKWKHWUDGHU FODLPHGWKHDQLPDOVZHUHQRWIRUVDOH $QHZSURGXFWODXQFKHGLQIRUZRPHQFRQWDLQLQJ0DQMDNDQLDKHUEDOLQJUHGLHQW 1([FKDQJHUDWHRI86' 0<5 2$1'$-XQH 2([FKDQJHUDWHRI86' 0<5 2$1'$1RYHPEHU
markets for medicinal products that were displayed on Direct communications with listed product distributors the shelf. Where possible, vendors were asked about the Of the 143 distributors across Peninsular Malaysia availability of products, prices and types of product. No found through online searches during the course of the products were purchased. survey, 66 based in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were To ascertain the levels of legality, data relating to FRQWDFWHGRIZKLFK Q LQGLYLGXDOV UHVSRQGHG the number of specimens of spiny-tailed lizard species to questions about the availability of spiny-tailed lizard- imported into Malaysia between 1990 and 2014 were based products. Of these, 86% of individuals claimed extracted from the UNEP-WCMC CITES trade database they had spiny-tailed lizard-based products available for (UNEP-WCMC, various dates Information from 1990 distribution in the form of capsules, fats and oil, while the was included as reports on the trade in spiny-tailed lizard rest said that they were no longer stocking the product. It SURGXFWV¿UVWHPHUJHGLQWKH V was not possible to assess the actual quantities of product types that were available. RESULTS Availability of spiny-tailed lizard-based products in Internet research Peninsular Malaysia Spiny-tailed lizard-based medicinal products could Direct market observations be easily purchased online and are promoted on many Of 25 standalone Malay traditional medicine shops and websites and open Facebook pages. A prominent three night markets visited, spiny-tailed lizard products Facebook page offering spiny-tailed lizard-based were only observed for sale at two shops, located in medicinal products shows a total of 7210 “Likes” and Chow Kit, which held the highest concentration of another with 1978 “Likes” DV RI -DQXDU\ traditional medicine shops of the areas surveyed. One suggesting a minimum number of people who have seen VKRSKDGRQO\RQHERWWOHRIFDSVXOHV FDSVXOHVERWWOH the advertisements and could be potential consumers. for sale, while the other had a maximum of 52 bottles of Only one brand of spiny-tailed lizard-based product capsules stacked on a shelf behind the counter. Neither was found during the study, which is registered under a shop had any other spiny-tailed lizard products, with one local company and manufactured in Malaysia. It seems trader saying that it was “very hard to get stock”, and that to be the only company in Malaysia selling this brand to “this is a new thing and other shops are starting to stock traditional medicine shops and independent distributors in it”, signalling a potential increase in future availability. Peninsular Malaysia. Products available were in the forms 3 Most of the other traders interviewed were not aware of capsules, oils, fats , coffee-mix and as whole dried skins. of the existence of this product. Some were unfamiliar From the conversations with traders and online sources, with the term “dhab” but some recognized the trade term three species are reportedly used: Egyptian Spiny-tailed “dhab sinai” despite not selling dhab products. Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia, Sudan Mastigure U. dispar In addition to the surveys in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and North African Spiny-tailed Lizard U. acanthinura. VSLQ\WDLOHGOL]DUGSURGXFWV FDSVXOHVRLODQGGULHGVNLQV were also observed for sale in two locations on separate occasions in the State of Perak during the survey period (Or, 3Sellers use the term “lemak” for fat taken directly from the animal, O.C., pers. obs; Muhamad, H.S., in. litt., 0D\ and either sold raw or processed into oils.
TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
Prices of products observed for sale are any spiny-tailed lizard VSHFLHVPHQWLRQHG )LJ GHVSLWHWKHLUEHLQJDGYHUWLVHG Market prices for various spiny-tailed lizard products as the main active ingredient. It is possible that by not UDQJHG IURP EHWZHHQ 0<5 86' IRU D SDFNHW listing the species on the ingredients list, manufacturers of coffee-mix claiming to contain spiny-tailed lizard evade screening processes by NPCB and DWNP. GHULYDWLYHV WR 0<5± 86'± IRU D Despite the reported sale of spiny-tailed lizard-based bottle of 60 capsules, which was the most commonly medicinal products in Peninsular Malaysia since the early available product. A live animal was said to be worth 1990s (Utusan Melayu, 2014; S. Broad, in litt., February 0<5 86' EXWZDVQRWIRUVDOH 7DEOH WKH &,7(6 WUDGH GDWDEDVH KDV QR UHFRUG RI WKH importation of this genus into Malaysia between 1990 CITES trade records and 1999, and no records of parts and derivatives (UNEP- :&0&YDULRXVGDWHV 7KLVGRHVQRWFRUUHVSRQGZLWKWKH According to the UNEP-WCMC CITES trade database, sellers’ claims on their website that dried spiny-tailed lizard a total of 834 live animals categorized as “live” were DVVXPHGWREHSDUWVDQGGHULYDWLYHV ZHUHREWDLQHGIURP LPSRUWHGLQWR0DOD\VLDEHWZHHQDQG 7DEOH suppliers in Egypt for further processing into products in with no records available prior to that. Many animals were Malaysia. Furthermore, Egypt has imposed an export ban re-exported from the USA, and mostly originated from on some Uromastyx species including U. aegyptia since 0DOL 7DEOH 7KH LPSRUWDWLRQ RI SDUWV RU GHULYDWLYHV &,7(6 7KLVVXJJHVWVWKDWDQLPDOVDQGWKHLU has never been recorded on the database. Although spiny- SDUWVPD\KDYHEHHQLPSRUWHGLQWR0DOD\VLDZLWKRXWRI¿FLDO WDLOHG OL]DUG±EDVHG SURGXFWV ZHUH REVHUYHG IRU VDOH LQ GRFXPHQWDWLRQ LH FRQWUDYHQLQJ &,7(6 $Q XQYHUL¿HG WKHFRXQWU\LQ 6%URDGSHUVFRPP WKHUH source from 2010 claimed that he had smuggled live spiny- were no records of spiny-tailed lizards being imported into tailed lizards from Jordan into Malaysia in his check-in Malaysia between 1990 and 1999, which suggests that EDJ .DPDWR DQGLWLVSRVVLEOHWKDWVRPHSURGXFWV during the 1990s, any animals or derivatives brought into could have been sourced from smuggled animals. These WKHFRXQWU\ZHUHLPSRUWHGZLWKRXWRI¿FLDOGRFXPHQWDWLRQ DSSDUHQWGLVFUHSDQFLHVVKRXOGEHFKHFNHGDQGYHUL¿HGE\ the authorities. DISCUSSION )URP ± WKUHH WUDGH REVHUYDWLRQV DERXW WKH Legality issues of trade in Malaysia sale of spiny-tailed lizard-based products involving one night market stall and two premises were reported to the As stated above, only one product brand is being offered 'HSDUWPHQWRI:LOGOLIHDQG1DWLRQDO3DUNV ':13 7ZR for retail sale in Malaysia, and appears to be owned by a RIWKHUDLGVGLGQRW¿QGDQ\VSLQ\WDLOHGOL]DUGSDUWVDQG Malaysian-registered company. It has only been permitted GHULYDWLYHVZKLOHDQRWKHUUHVXOWHGLQFRQ¿VFDWLRQRIWZR to keep one species—Sudan Mastigure—according to the suspected spiny-tailed lizard trophies, with investigations approval document displayed on the company’s website. RQJRLQJ 0<&$7 However, there are claims by the trader in online sources As a traditional medicine, spiny-tailed lizard-based that these spiny-tailed lizard-based products are made of products in the form of capsules sold need to be (and have Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard. Nowhere on the packaging EHHQ UHJLVWHUHGE\13&%+RZHYHUGHVSLWHWKHFODLPV OR OI CHING / TRAFFIC OR OI CHING / Fig. 4. Spiny-tailed lizard derivatives are not included in the list of ingredients for the Ministry of Health (MOH) registration of this medicinal product (nor on the product packaging, left). Source: MOH Pharmaceutical Services Division
38 TRAFFIC Bulletin 9RO1R S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
Importer Year Taxon Exporter Origin reported Source1 quantity
² 1RUHFRUGVRIWUDGH Uromastyx dispar *KDQD 0DOL : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 1LJHU : Uromastyx ocellata 6XGDQ : Uromastyx aegyptia -RUGDQ & Uromastyx ornata -RUGDQ & Uromastyx dispar 86$ 0DOL : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 0DOL : Uromastyx dispar 0DOL : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 1LJHU : Uromastyx dispar 86$ 0DOL : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 0DOL : Uromastyx acanthinura 6XGDQ : Uromastyx geyri 86$ *KDQD : Uromastyx ocellata 6XGDQ : Uromastyx ornata 6XGDQ : UromastyxVSS 86$ 0DOL : UromastyxVSS 86$ &KDG : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 0DOL : Uromastyx geyri 86$ 0DOL : ² 1RUHFRUGVRIWUDGH Total 834
Table 2. Live Spiny-tailed lizard species reported to have been imported for commercial purposes by Malaysia between 1990 and 2014. WKHUHSRUWHGVRXUFHRIWKHWUDQVDFWLRQUHODWHVWRWKHRULJLQDOVRXUFHRIWKHVSHFLHVEHLQJWUDGHG : VSHFLPHQWDNHQIURPWKHZLOG & DQLPDOVEUHGLQFDSWLYLW\Source: CITES Trade database
that the main active ingredient in the capsules is spiny- Dhabsinai capsule products DUH FHUWL¿HG halal by the tailed lizard derivative, products observed in trade during governmental Department of Islamic Development this survey did not list it as an ingredient; only plant- 0DOD\VLD -$.,0 3URGXFW EURFKXUHV DOVR SURPRWH EDVHGLQJUHGLHQWVZHUHOLVWHG )LJ 7KLVDSSHDUVWREH spiny-tailed lizards as herbivores and consumption is a violation of the Medicines (Sales and Advertisement) therefore not prohibited in Islamic scripture; however, it Act 1956. Both authorities have been contacted to alert is worth noting that Castilla et al. KDYHSUHVHQWHG them to this, and to clarify the registration status of the evidence of scavenging behaviours in Egyptian Spiny- company and product. WDLOHG/L]DUGV,WLVXQFOHDULIWKLVQHZ¿QGLQJZLOODIIHFW the halal status of spiny-tailed lizards; this will require Trade dynamics of spiny-tailed lizard-based products further investigation. in Malaysia Conservation concern Products of this company have been promoted as the only medicinal products containing spiny-tailed lizards Overhunting of spiny-tailed lizard species has been available in Malaysia and have been marketed openly reported as a threat to their survival in range countries, for over a decade, evolving into a business that could including Egypt, India and Pakistan (Wilms et al., 2012; be gaining in popularity, as suggested by the company’s 5DVKHHG &RQVHUYDWLRQ ,QGLD ORFDOV LQ frequent participation in trade fairs and the introduction Saudi Arabia have reported dwindling numbers of spiny- of a new product. The availability of spiny-tailed lizard- WDLOHGOL]DUGVDVDUHVXOWRIRYHUKXQWLQJ 5HXWHUV based products for sale for more than two decades suggests and in some regions the species can no longer be found there is a steady supply and demand. Furthermore, these +DELE 2IWHQWKLVDQLPDOLVVROGLQORFDOPDUNHWV products are actively promoted at various national trade in large numbers (Abdulaziz et al. 2QH RI WKH events such as MAHA and the Malaysian International species claimed to be used in medicines in Peninsular Halal Showcase, a trade show promoting Halal products Malaysia—the Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard—is and services to international markets. already listed as Vulnerable by IUCN, with a decreasing Online sources promoting the products appear to target population trend and trade cited as a conservation threat a Muslim audience as products are promoted as halal, a ,8&1 0RUHFRQVLVWHQWPRQLWRULQJLVUHTXLUHGWR ELQGLQJ,VODPLFFHUWL¿FDWLRQFRQFHUQLQJWKHFRQVXPSWLRQ understand the prevalence of trade in Malaysia or other of certain products/foods according to religious rules. countries, and the impact on wild populations.
TRAFFIC Bulletin9RO1R S H O R T C O M M U N I C A T I O N
CONCLUSIONS +DELE7 6DXGLOL]DUGSRDFKHUVFUHDWLQJµHQYLURQPHQWDO disaster’. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi- Traditional medicine products reportedly containing arabia/saudi-lizard-poachers-creating-environmental- spiny-tailed lizard parts and derivatives are being traded disaster-1.1325202. Gulf News (Saudi Arabia). 28 April. Viewed on 3 December 2015. in Malaysia. Due to apparent discrepancies uncovered ,8&1 5HG /LVW The IUCN Red List of Threatened during this study, there are concerns that some of this trade Species. Version 2015-3. www.iucnredlist.org. Viewed on may be taking place without proper import documentation. 12 October 2015. Furthermore, registered products observed do not include .DPDWR Madu dan dhab. http://kamato.blogspot. spiny-tailed lizards and derivatives on the ingredients list my/2010/02/madu-dan-dhab.html. Viewed on 4 January 2016. despite their being advertised as the main active ingredient. .QDSS$ $QDVVHVVPHQWRIWKHLQWHUQDWLRQDOWUDGHLQ This omission contravenes Malaysian legislation Spiny-tailed Lizards Uromastyx with a focus on the role of governing the sale and advertising of medicines. the European Union. CITES Doc AC Inf.13. https://cites. TRAFFIC is working with DWNP and NPCB to RUJVLWHVGHIDXOW¿OHVFRPPRQFRPDF(LQISGI Mahmood, T., Shah, S.M.A., Rais, M. and Nadeem, M.S. verify the trade of spiny-tailed lizard products, and to $Q LQYHVWLJDWLRQ RI DQLPDO VSHFLHV WUDGH DW SHW recommend follow-up regulatory actions where required. shops of Rawalpindi and Multan cities. The Journal of Further monitoring and comprehensive investigation into Animal and Plant Science ± the trade of this genus in Malaysia is recommended. As 0<&$7 0DOD\VLDQ&RQVHUYDWLRQ$OOLDQFHIRU7LJHUV this emerging trade could potentially be a threat to wild Internal information. spiny-tailed lizard populations, it is also recommended 3UDGKDQ60LVKUD'DQG6DKX.5 +HUSHWRIDXQD that range countries from which the animals are exported used as traditional medicine by tribes of Gandhamardan monitor wild populations and regulate hunting and export. Hills Range, Western Orissa, India. International Journal of Research in Zoology ± 5DVKHHG 7 ,OOHJDO UHSWLOLDQ WUDGH LQ &KDJDL 'HVHUW ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Pakistan: a narrative of bad governance and weakening of traditional institutions. TRAFFIC Bulletin The authors thank Yong Kien Thai from University Malaya and 5HXWHUV /L]DUGKXQWVHDVRQEHJLQVLQ6DXGL$UDELDhttp:// his students Sofwan B. Badruddin, Mohammad Akif Asyraf, english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2015/11/11/ 0XKDPPDG$¿T$]UL%+DVKLP0XKDPPDG$]L]L%6KRGGHUL Travel-industry-eyes-new-frontiers-after-Sinai-crash.html. 1RU$PLUXOVKD¿T%1RU$]PDQDQG0XKDPPDG1D]UL%,VKDN 2 June 2013. Buraydah-Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya Network and Shariff Mohamad from WWF-Malaysia for helping with 6DXGL$UDELD 9LHZHGRQ1RYHPEHU the surveys and data collection. The authors also thank Chris R. 6XEUDPDQHDQ-DQG9LNUDP5HGG\0 0RQLWRUOL]DUGV Shepherd, Boyd Leupen, Lalita Gomez, Kanitha Krishnasamy, and geckos used in traditional medicine face extinction and Loretta Ann Shepherd, Richard Thomas and Steven Broad for need protection. Current Science ± WKHLUFRPPHQWVRQWKLVDUWLFOHDQG-RUGL-DQVVHQIRULGHQWL¿FDWLRQ 81(3:&0& YDULRXVGDWHV &,7(67UDGH'DWDEDVHKWWS help. Taronga Zoo and an anonymous donor are thanked for trade.cites.org/. generously supporting this study. 8WXVDQ 0HOD\X Dhab tarikan di Karnival Muamalah Islam. http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/ REFERENCES Selatan/20140114/ws_06/Dhab-tarikan-di-Karnival- Muamalah-Islam. 14 -DQXDU\ 8WXVDQ 0HOD\X 0 Abdulaziz, H.A.Z., Robinson, E.R., Iyad, A.N. and Yousef Berhad. Viewed on 3 December 2015. ,$: First Saudi Arabian national report on the Wilms, T.M., Bohme, W., Wagner, P., Lutzmann, N. and biological diversity. The National Commission for Wildlife 6FKPLW]$ 2Q WKH SK\ORJHQ\ DQG WD[RQRP\ RI Conservation and Development. Saudi Arabia. the Genus Uromastyx Merrem, 1820 (Reptilia: Squamata: Castilla, A.M., Richer, R.A., Herrel, A., Conkey, A.A.T., $JDPLGDH 8URPDVW\FLQDH ²5HVXUUHFWLRQ RI WKH *HQXV 7ULEXQD - DQG $O7KDQL 0 )LUVW HYLGHQFH RI Saara Gray, 1845. Bonner Zoologische Beitrage ± scavenging behaviour in the herbivorous lizard Uromastyx Wilms, T.M., Wagner, P., Shobrak, M., Lutzmann, N. and aegyptia microlepis. Journal of Arid Environments ± %RKPH: $VSHFWVRIWKHHFRORJ\RIWKH$UDELDQ 673. spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia microlepis &RQVHUYDWLRQ ,QGLD Spiny-tailed lizard poaching, %ODQIRUG DW0DKD]DWDV6D\GSURWHFWHGDUHD6DXGL Salamandra ± Desert National Park. http://conservationindia.org/gallery/ Arabia. spiny-tailed-lizard-poaching-desert-national-park/. 26 June Wilms, T., Eid, E.K.A., Al Johany, A.M.H., Amr, Z.S.S., Els, J., Baha (O'LQ6'LVL$06KDUL¿03DSHQIXVV76KD¿HL%DIWL6 2014. Viewed on 3 December 2015. &,7(6 KWWSV FLWHVRUJVLWHVGHIDXOWILOHVFRPPRQ DQG:HUQHU</ Uromastyx aegyptia.The IUCN Red List notif/1992/662.pdf of Threatened Species 2012:e.T164729A1071308. http://dx.doi. 'DV 6. 'RRNLD 6 'DV . DQG 'XWWD 6. org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T164729A1071308.en. Ecological observations on the Indian Spiny-tailed Saara Viewed on 22 February 2016. hardwickii (Gray, 1827) (Reptilia:Squamata:Agamidae)