Ophisops elegans

Ophisops elegans, commonly known as the snake-eyed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Mediterranean region and Central Asia. There are nine recognized subspecies.

Ophisops elegans
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Lacertoidea
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Ophisops
Species:	O. elegans
Binomial name
Ophisops elegans Ménétries, 1832

Description

O. elegans has the following distinguishing characters: Head moderate, feebly depressed. Upper head-shields smooth or slightly rugose; nostril lateral, pierced between on upper and a lower nasal, and followed by one or two postnasals; frontonasal single; four supra-oculars, first and fourth very small, the two principal separated from the supraciliaries by a series of granules: occipital small, in contact with or separated from the interparietal; subocular bordering the lip, normally between the fourth and fifth upper labials; temporal scales small, smooth; usually two large supratemporal shields bordering the parietal; a large tympanic shield. A. gular fold may be distinguishable; collar absent or feebly marked. Dorsal scales variable in size, as large as or larger than the laterals; 30 to 40 scales round the middle of the body, ventrals included. A more or less enlarged postero-median preanal plate. The hind limb reaches about the ear in the male, the shoulder or a little beyond in the female. 7 to 12 (usually 9 to 11) femoral pores on each side. Tail about twice as long as head and body. Olive or bronzy above, with black spots usually forming longitudinal series, sometimes forming a network; frequently and or two light longitudinal streaks on each side; lower surfaces white.^[2]

From snout to vent 2 inches (5 cm); tail 4 inches (10 cm).

Subspecies

The following nine subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[3]

• Ophisops elegans basoglui Baran & Budak, 1978
• Ophisops elegans blanfordi Schmidt, 1939
• Ophisops elegans budakibarani Tok, Afsar, Yakin, Ayaz & Çiçek, 2017
• Ophisops elegans centralanatoliae Bodenheimer, 1944
• Ophisops elegans ehrenbergerii (Wiegmann, 1835)
• Ophisops elegans elegans Ménétries, 1832
• Ophisops elegans macrodactylus Berthold, 1840
• Ophisops elegans persicus Boulenger, 1918
• Ophisops elegans schlueteri Boettger, 1880

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Ophisops.

Etymology

The subspecific name, schlueteri, is in honor of Wilhelm Schlüter, who was a German dealer of natural history specimens.^[4]

Geographic range

O. elegans is found in E Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, SE Bulgaria, NE Greece (Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Romania, Samos, Samothraki, Agathonisi, Psara), Cyprus, Turkey, Algeria, Libya, Egypt,^[5] W Syria, Lebanon, Israel, W Jordan, Iraq, Iran (Kavir desert), N Pakistan, NW India.

Races:

• O. e. basoglui – S Anatolia
• O. e. blanfordi – Pakistan
• O. e. centralanatolia – C Anatolia
• O. e. ehrenbergi – Kalymnos, Lesbos etc.
• O. e. elegans – Turkey (including Anatolia)
• O. e. macrodactylus – W Turkey, Greece (Lesbos etc.)
• O. e. schlueteri – Cyprus

Type locality: Baku, Azerbaijan.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of O. elegans are grassland, shrubland and forest, at altitudes of 400–2,000 m (1,300–6,600 ft).^[1]

Reproduction

O. elegans is oviparous.^[3]