Ornate is a stout lizard about 18 cm long with a stocky body and strong legs. A typical feature are the scurfs on the tail, which are stiff and pointed. The basic coloring is green-blue, but they are sexually dichromatic - color depends on the gender. Males main color of the back is green, blue or red with dark brown stripes, which can be filled with yellow spots, which often form transverse rows. Females are darker, with a light brown dorsal background and light yellow transverse lines. They are widespread in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt and are well adapted to life in hot, dry deserts where daytime temperatures can exceed 50°C. However, the heat does not bother them, they are thermophilic and often sunbathe. A change in color also helps them to regulate their body temperature - they get a lighter color on the sun, they darken in the cold, because the dark color accumulates heat better. They dig deep burrows up to the moist layers of the earth. They are primarily herbivores, but sometimes eat insects. They hide fat reserves in their massive tail covered with rigid scurfs and tail serves as an effective weapon. They are active during the day and usually live in a small groups consisting of one male and several females.