This is not an exhaustive guide to feeding Uromastyx; there are hundreds of food plants you can give your Uro outside of this list. This plant “menu” was compiled using various sources available on the web, most notably “Feeding Behaviour and Food Selection of Dhab Uromastyx microlepis From Wild Vegetation” Mansour A. AL-Hazmi, King Abdulaziz University (http://qspace.qu.edu.qa/bitstream/handle/10576/10234/070121-0008-fulltext.pdf?sequence=4)
The chart below comes from that resource, however, edits were made, mostly corrections of misspellings, renaming and reclassifying taxa.These changes are defined below the chart.
Further research is also provided within our modified list with a link to a plant database or Wikipedia entry. Probably the most useful addition for the reptile hobbyist are the substitutions available outside of the native Uromastyx distribution within Africa and the Middle East. These suggestions are mostly targeted to North America (NA) but suggestions have been provided for Europe when available. It is possible that other arid environments have naturalized these specific plants in the form of invasive weeds or landscaping plants – but we have tried to minimize the recommendation of these in cases where they may damage the local ecosystems.
Feeding preference is denoted by 1 for preferred 2 for occasionally and 3 for rarely. No number present indicates that Uromastyx were not observed eating from this plant. They are included for educational purposes or for those designing a comprehensive outdoor enclosure. Also listed are the parts of the plant ingested; most notably Uromastyx favor young leaves, shoots, buds and flowers. This feeding tactic not only takes advantage of highly nutritious new growth but also avoids toxic compounds more developed in mature foliage.
Please note that we are not trained botanists and there is a chance that we have wrongly classified a plant or have recommended taxa that are toxic in nature. We encourage readers to research and verify plants before feeding them to your captive Uromastyx. Uro species span a wide geography, so what is appropriate for the subject species (U. aegyptius microlepis).
Native Uromastyx Plants
| Family | Botanical Relations | Species | Food Pref. | Common name(s) | Type | Parts Eaten |
| Acanthaceae | Blepharis ciliaris[1] | 1 | Perennial | Buds & leaves | ||
| Reference URL: http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Blepharis_ciliaris | ||||||
| Aizoaceae | Ice plant/stone plant family | Aizoon canariense[2] | 1 | Annual | shoots | |
| Reference URL: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Aizoon_canariense Substitutes: Common edibles within this family include Tetragonia tetragonioides (New England Spinach), Carpobrotus edulis, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. New England spinach has a high oxalate content. |
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| Aizoaceae | Ice plant/stone plant family | Aizoon hispanicum[3] | 1 | Annual | shoots | |
| Reference URL: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aizoon_hispanicum_1.JPG | ||||||
| Amaranthaceae | A subfamily of Amaranths | Salicornia europaea | Annual | |||
| Amaranthaceae | Chenopodiaceae: Goosefoot family, subfamily of Amaranths | Anabasis setifera | Perennial | |||
| Notes: Other sources [1] report Uromastyx feeding on Chenopodium species within this family Substitutes: Quelite, Lamb’s Quarters (both European & American species), California goosefoot |
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| Amaranthaceae | Chenopodiaceae: Goosefoot family, subfamily of Amaranths | Haloxyon salicornicum | Perennial | |||
| Amaranthaceae | Chenopodiaceae: Goosefoot family, subfamily of Amaranths | Salsola kali | Russian thistle, tumbleweed | Annual | ||
| Apocynaceae | Dogbane family | Rhazya stricta | Perennial | |||
| Reference URL: http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/assaeed/Pages/Rhazya_stricta.aspx Notes: Poisonous, medicinal plant |
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| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae, Anthemis considered "chamomile" plants | Anthemis deserti | 1 | dog fennel | Annual | Leaves |
| Reference URL: http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/assaeed/Pages/Anthemis_deserti.aspx Substitutes: Roman chamomile, German chamomile, dog fennel |
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| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae, asters, daisys sunflowers | Anvillea garcini | 1 | Annual | Leaves | |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anvillea | ||||||
| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae. Artemisia considered wormwoods. | Artemisia sp. | 2 | wormwood, mugwort, tarragon | Perennial | Leaves |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_(genus) Notes: Genus contains plants with volatile oils Substitutes: Tarragon is a particular favorite of MVR’s captive Uromastyx |
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| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae, asters, daisys sunflowers | Centaurea sp. | starthistles, knapweeds | Annual | ||
| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae, asters, daisys sunflowers | Launaea arabica | 3 | Arabian launaea | Perennial | Flowers & leaves |
| Reference URL: http://www.flowersinisrael.com/Launaeaangustifolia_page.htm | ||||||
| Asteraceae | Asteraceae family, aka Compositae, asters, daisys sunflowers | Launaea capitata | 3 | Perennial | Flowers & leaves | |
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/taxon/specimens/Launaea.capitata | ||||||
| Boraginaceae | Borage family | Moltkiopsis ciliata | 1 | Perennial | Leaves, flowers & fruits | |
| Reference URL: http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-10-34-5/bot-34-5-2-0907-98.pdf Substitutes: Borage leaves, flowers & fruits. Caution: dried leaves may contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids |
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| Brassicaceae | Brassicaceae aka Cruciferae family | Anastatica hierochuntica | 3 | dinosaur plant, resurrection plant | Annual | Flowers & leaves |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastatica | ||||||
| Brassicaceae | Brassicaceae aka Cruciferae family | Sisymbrium irio | 1 | London Rocket | Annual | shoots |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisymbrium_irio Substitutes: Go easy on cruciferous vegetables, which contain phytochemicals (glucosinolates, goitrogens) which may bind other nutrients or impair biological functions |
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| Caryophyllaceae | Carnation family | Gypsophila sp. | baby’s breath, soap wort | Annual | ||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsophila | ||||||
| Caryophyllaceae | Carnation family | Paronychia arabica | chickweed, nailwort | Annual | ||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paronychia_(plant) | ||||||
| Cistaceae | Rock-rose family | Helianthemum salicifolium | 3 | Sunrose, rockrose | Annual | Leaves |
| Reference URL: http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Helianthemum_salicifolium Substitutes: Rockroses are common in Europe, rushroses are prevelent in California |
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| Cleomaeae | Brassicaceae family[7] | Cleome arabica | 3 | Annual | Flowers & buds | |
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/1_634 Notes: Leaves possible diuretic. Substitutes: Other cleomes are found in California & Western N. America: golden bee plant, golden spiderflower, Navajo spinach |
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| Convolvulaceae | Morning glory family | Convolvulus lanatus [8] | 2 | bindweed, morning glory | Perennial | Buds, tender leaves |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus Notes: Some species are considered somewhat toxic and contain psychodelic properties Substitutes: Invasive in US. Sweet potato shoots may be edible |
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| Convolvulaceae | Morning glory family | Convolvulus oxyphyllus | 1 | bindweed, morning glory | Perennial | Buds, tender leaves |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convolvulus Notes: Some species are considered somewhat toxic and contain psychodelic properties Substitutes: Invasive in US. Sweet potato shoots may be edible |
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| Cucurbitaceae | Melon family, gourd family | Citrullus colocynthis[9] | 3 | colocynth, bitter apple, bitter cucumber | Annual | Few seeds |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colocynth Notes: Seed rich in fat and protein |
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| Ephedraceae | Ephedra alata | 3 | Perennial | Buds | ||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephedra_alata Notes: Contains medicinal compound ephedra, which can cause dangerous side effects. North American ephedras like "mormon tea" lack these alkaloids Substitutes: Jointfir, desert tea, Mormon tea |
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| Euphorbiaceae | Chrozophora tinctoria | Annual | ||||
| Fabaceae | Legume family | Alhagi graecorum | 1 | manna plant, manna tree, camelthorn | Perennial | Flowers & buds |
| Reference URL: http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/A/Alhagi_graecorum/ Notes: deepest root system of any plant Substitutes: Sainfoin, Utah sweetvetch are in same tribe as camelthorn within Fabaceae |
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| Fabaceae | Legume family | Astragalus vogelii | 2 | milkvetch, locoweed (N. America species) | Perennial | Tender leaves & pods |
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/3_389 Notes: Swainsonine phytotoxin in some species http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/locoweed/astrag1.html Substitutes: Old World species may have less toxic properties than New World species (locoweeds) |
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| Fabaceae | Legume family | Astragalus spinosus | 3 | milkvetch, locoweed (N. America species) | Perennial | Leaves |
| Reference URL: http://www.csbe.org/water_conserving_landscapes/plant_lists/natives/astragalus-spinosus.htm Notes: Swainsonine phytotoxin in some species http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/locoweed/astrag1.html Substitutes: Old World species may have less toxic properties than New World species (locoweeds) |
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| Fabaceae | Legume family | Cassia senna | Senna | Perennial | ||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senna_alexandrina | ||||||
| Lamiaceae | Mint family | Teucrium oliverianum | 1 | germander | Annual | Flowers & leaves |
| Reference URL: http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/t/teucrium_oliverianum/ Substitutes: T. Chamaedrys or T. Canadense |
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| Neuradaceae | Malvales family | Neurada procumbens | 1 | Annual | Shoots & fruits | |
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/4_396 Substitutes: Other well-known members of Malvales in the APG II sense are daphnes, hibiscus, hollyhocks, okra, baobab trees, cotton, and kapok. Hibiscus and hollyhocks are eaten by Uromastyx in captivity. |
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| Nitrariaceae | Nitraria retusa | Perennial | ||||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitraria_retusa | ||||||
| Nitrariaceae | Peganum harmala | harmal, syrian rue | Perennial | |||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peganum_harmala Notes: Recently reclassified from Zygophyllaceae family Substitutes: See entries for Zygophyllaceae |
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| Orobanchaceae | Broomrape family | Orobanche aegyptiaca | 2 | Egyptian broomrape | Annual | Shoots |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orobanche_aegyptiaca Notes: Parasite of sunflowers Substitutes: California broomrape parasitizes sagebrush, which is another NA substitute for a native Uromastyx favorite Artemisia sp. |
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| Orobanchaceae | Broomrape family | Cistanche phelypaea | Annual | |||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistanche Notes: Parasite of sunflowers Substitutes: California broomrape parasitizes sagebrush, which is another NA substitute for a native Uromastyx favorite Artemisia sp. |
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| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Aeluropus lagopoides | 1 | Perennial | Shoots & spikes | |
| Reference URL: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250071769 Substitutes: Genus Poa: bluegrass, meadowgrass |
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| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Aristida pennie | 2 | wiregrass | Perennial | Shoots & spikes |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristida Substitutes: Aristida stricta wire grass |
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| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Cutandia sp. | Annual | |||
| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Panicum turgidum | 1 | Turgid panic grass, taman, tuman | Perennial | Shoots & spikes |
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panicum_turgidum Substitutes: Millet grass, switchgrass |
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| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Schismus arabicus | Arabian schismus | Annual | ||
| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Stipagrostis capensis | bushman grass | Annual | ||
| Reference URL: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/agpc/doc/Gbase/Safricadata/stipzey.htm | ||||||
| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Stipagrostis obtusa | 1 | Perennial | Shoots & spikes | |
| Reference URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?35721 Notes: Possibly toxic to mammals/livestock |
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| Poaceae | True grass family, aka Gramineae | Stipagrostis plumosa | 1 | desert grass | Perennial | Shoots & spikes |
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/upwta/2_783 | ||||||
| Polygonaceae | Knotweed family | Polygonium aviculare L. | Common knotgrass | Annual | ||
| Reference URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonum_aviculare | ||||||
| Scrophulariaceae | Figwart family | Scrophularia hypericifolia | 2 | figworts | Perennial | Shoots, buds & fruits |
| Reference URL: http://flora.huji.ac.il/browse.asp?action=specie&specie=SCRHYP Substitutes: California figwort (Scrophularia californica) |
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| Solanacea | Nightshade family | Lycium shawii | 2 | Arabian boxthorn, wolfberry, "goji" | Perennial | Shoots, buds & flowers |
| Reference URL: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250081281 Notes: Closely related to l. barbarum wolfberry Substitutes: Due to the toxic nature of Solanaceae, no substitutions outside of the boxthorn genus (Lycium) recommended. |
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| Zygophyllaceae | Fagonia bruguieri | 2 | fagonbush | Perennial | Shoots, buds & fruits | |
| Reference URL: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250064425 Notes: Similar to creosote bush Larrea tridentata Substitutes: California fagonbush (Fagonia laevis) and sticky fagonbush (Fagonia pachyacantha) |
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| Zygophyllaceae | Fagonia glutinosa | 1 | Perennial | Shoots, buds, flowers & fruits | ||
| Reference URL: http://flora.huji.ac.il/browse.asp?lang=en&action=specie&specie=FAGGLU&fileid=32971 Substitutes: California fagonbush (Fagonia laevis) and sticky fagonbush (Fagonia pachyacantha) |
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| Zygophyllaceae | Tribulus macropterus / T. longipetalus | Annual | ||||
| Reference URL: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=250064453 | ||||||
| Zygophyllaceae | Zygophyllum coccineum | 3 | Perennial | Shoots, buds & fruits | ||
| Reference URL: http://plants.jstor.org/flora/flota000946 Notes: Often confused with Zygophyllum propinquum Substitutes: Syrian beancaper is an introduced highly invasive weed in Western NA. |
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| Primary Source, 2001 study: http://qspace.qu.edu.qa/bitstream/handle/10576/10234/070121-0008-fulltext.pdf?sequence=4 | ||||||
Notes:
Some misspellings were detected and corrected:
- Moltkiopsis for Moltokiopsis
- Helianthemum for Halianthemum
Reclassified the following:
- Several grasses into the grass family instead of Euphorbiaceae
- Peganum harmala to family Nitrariaceae from Zygophyllaceae
- Salicornia europaea to Amaranthaceae from Chenopodiaceae
- Chenopodiaceae subfamily into Amaranthaceae
Renamed the following taxa to be more current:
- Leguminosae to Fabaceae
- Compositae to Asteraceae
- Cruciferae to Brassicaceae
- Gramineae to Poaceae
Other sources:
The following were reported to be native foods for Uromastyx, but as preference and parts data was not included, we did not include with the above chart.
- Hawkbit (Leontodon spp.) [Asteraceae family, Cichorieae tribe]
Substitute: Chicory/Endive (Cichorium endivia)[Asteraceae family, Cichorieae tribe] - Saltbush/Orache (Atriplex spp.) [Amaranthaceae family, Chenopodioideae subfamily]
Substitute: Wheelscale saltbush (Atriplex elegans) NA Southwest - Esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima) [Poaceae family]
Substitute: Desert needle grass (Stipa speciosa) - Heliotropes (Heliotropium spp.) [Boraginaceae family] Warning: Toxic!
Substitute: See Boraginaceae in above chart - Broom (Genista spp.) [Fabaceae family, Genisteae tribe]
Substitute: Brooms are invasive. See Fabaceae in above chart - Thyme (Thymus spp.) [Lamiaceae family] Probably T. caespititius
Substitute: Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - Goosefoot (Chenopodium spp.) [Amaranthaceae]
Substitute: See Amaranthaceae in above chart - Ochradenus baccatus Flowers [Brassicaceae family]
Substitute: Mignonette (Reseda, based on molecular analysis of Orchradenus genus) - Acacia flowers, specifically Umbrella Thorn Acacia (Acacia tortilis) [Fabaceae family]
Substitute: Sweet Acacia (Vachellia farnesiana, formally A. farnesiana) native to Sonoran desert. Acacias are used in many desert landscapes.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/uromastyx.html
http://uroranch.com/uroranch.com/Danny%20Molco/Uromastyx%20ornatus%20-%20diet.htm research on U. ornatus.
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I’ve learned more about native plants in this blog. Thanks also for providing a references of each plant.