Koelliker's glass lizard

Koelliker's glass lizard (Hyalosaurus koellikeri), also called commonly the Moroccan glass lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Anguidae.^[1] The species is native to western North Africa.

Koelliker's glass lizard
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Anguimorpha
Family:	Anguidae
Genus:	Hyalosaurus Günther, 1873
Species:	H. koellikeri
Binomial name
Hyalosaurus koellikeri Günther, 1873
Synonyms[2]
Hyalosaurus koellikeri Günther, 1873 Pseudopus apus ornata Boettger, 1881 Ophisaurus koellikeri — Boulenger, 1885 Anguis koellikeri — Macey et al., 1999 Hyalosaurus koellikeri — Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008

Etymology

The specific name, koellikeri, is in honor of Swiss histologist Albert von Kölliker.^[3]

Geographic range

H. koellikeri is found in Algeria and Morocco.^[1]

Habitat

The natural habitats of Koelliker's glass lizard are temperate forests, shrubland, temperate grassland, and pastureland, at altitudes up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).^[1]

Description

H. koellikeri has no fore limbs, but does have rudimentary hind limbs. Dorsally, it is brownish, with a darker lateral band. Ventrally, it is yellowish.^[4]

Taxonomy

H. koellikeri has often been historically included within the genus Ophisaurus, but genetic evidence has shown H. koellikeri to be more closely related to Anguis and Pseudopus than to Ophisaurus.^[5]

Reproduction

H. koellikeri is oviparous.^[2]

Conservation status

H. koellikeri is threatened by habitat loss.^[1]