The toad headed agama (Phrynocephalus versicolor) ranges across the arid steppe regions of southern and western Mongolia and represents one of the most common reptiles in the country. However, few details of the species’ population characteristics exist, which may be important for evaluating population trends and assessing its conservation status. We estimated toad headed agama density in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia based on surveys conducted in the summers (June-September) of 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2009. We conducted surveys in three steppe habitats including tall grassland (n = 7), shrub-steppe (n = 7), and semi-shrub steppe (n = 8), and calculated density using Distance methods. Mean density across all surveys was 66 agamas/ha (95% C.I. = 48-92; range: 24/ha to 112/ha). Agamas occurred in highest density in shrub-steppe and lowest in semi-shrub across years. Density was similar between shrub-steppe and tall grassland. However, density in these habitats was significantly higher than in semishrub steppe. Our results provide baseline estimates of toad headed agama density, and indicate that agamas are capable of reaching higher density than previously recorded. Our results also suggest that agamas benefit from the cover afforded by more structurally complex vegetation communities like those found in shrub-steppe and tall grassland habitats
