Psammodromus algirus

Psammodromus algirus, known commonly as the Algerian psammodromus or the large psammodromus, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae.^[1][2] The species is found in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.^[2]

Psammodromus algirus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Psammodromus
Species:	P. algirus
Binomial name
Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Range
Synonyms[2]
Lacerta algira Linnaeus, 1758 Tropidosaura algira — A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839 Algira (Tropidosaura) algira — Boettger, 1885 Psammodromus algirus — Boulenger, 1887 Pantodactylus nicefori C. Burt & M. Burt, 1931 Psammodromus manuelae Busack, Salvador & Lawson, 2006 Psammodromus jeanneae Busack, Salvador & Lawson, 2006 Psammodromus algirus — Mendes et al., 2017

Subspecies

There are four subspecies:^[2]

• Psammodromus algirus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Psammodromus algirus doriae Bedriaga, 1886
• Psammodromus algirus nollii Fischer, 1887
• Psammodromus algirus ketamensis Galán, 1931

Geographic range

Psammodromus algirus is found in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) and in Southwestern Europe (Iberian Peninsula: Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar; southernmost France, and Italy near Lampedusa).^[2]

The IUCN assessment from 2009 treats Psammodromus algirus nollii and Psammodromus algirus ketamensis as full species and restricts Psammodromus algirus to North Africa.^[1]

Habitat

P. algirus typically occurs in dense bushy vegetation, but it can also venture to more open areas. It can be found at elevations up to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) above sea level, but it is more common at lower elevations.^[3]

Diet

Psammodromus algirus mainly feeds on terrestrial arthropods, specifically Orthoptera, Formicidae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Araneae.^[4]

Conservation status

P. algirus is threatened by habitat loss.^[1]

Description

P. algirus commonly reaches a snout–vent length of about 7.5 cm (3.0 in), occasionally 9 cm (3.5 in). The tail is 2–3 times the body length. Dorsal colouration is usually metallic brownish with a pair of conspicuous white or yellowish stripes on both sides.^[3]