Agamid

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A lizard belonging to the family Agamidae, typically characterized by a flattened body, spiny scales, and the ability to change color slightly
2. Any of various lizards in the family Agamidae, found mainly in warm regions and known for their distinctive head crests and dewlaps
3. A member of the lizard family Agamidae, distinguished by its rough skin, varied coloration, and often dramatic defensive posturing

Etymology: Agamids are lizards of the family Agamidae, found mostly in Africa, Asia and Australia, and the name comes from a Greek word, "agamos," meaning "unmarried" or "without a mate." The name was coined by the French naturalist Louis Agassiz... no, that attribution is wrong, so let me state only what is well established: the family name was formed in the nineteenth century from the genus name "Agama," which was introduced by Daudin in 1802 for these lizards. The genus name "Agama" was itself formed from a West African term recorded for a lizard, and the Greek-sounding form was adopted by scientists who needed a Latinised label for the group. The "-id" ending is the standard zoological suffix marking a family, taken from the Greek "-idēs," meaning "son of" or "descendant of," so "agamid" literally means a member of the "Agama" group.