Psammodromus algirus
Species of lizard
title: "Psammodromus algirus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["psammodromus", "lacertid-lizards-of-africa", "reptiles-of-north-africa", "lizards-of-europe", "reptiles-described-in-1758", "animal-taxa-named-by-carl-linnaeus", "taxonomy-articles-created-by-polbot"] description: "Species of lizard" topic_path: "general/psammodromus" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psammodromus_algirus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Species of lizard ::
| image = Psammodromus algirus - 01.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | taxon = Psammodromus algirus | authority = (Linnaeus, 1758) | synonyms = *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 | synonyms_ref = | range_map = Psammodromus algirus range Map cutted.png | range_map_caption = Range
Psammodromus algirus, known commonly as the Algerian psammodromus or the large psammodromus, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is found in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa.
Subspecies
There are four subspecies:{{species list | 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).
The IUCN assessment from 2009 treats Psammodromus algirus nollii and Psammodromus algirus ketamensis as full species and restricts Psammodromus algirus to North Africa.
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 2600 m above sea level, but it is more common at lower elevations.
Diet
Psammodromus algirus mainly feeds on terrestrial arthropods, specifically Orthoptera, Formicidae, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Araneae.
Conservation status
P. algirus is threatened by habitat loss.
Description
P. algirus commonly reaches a snout–vent length of about 7.5 cm, occasionally 9 cm. 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.
References
References
- Mateo, J.A.. (2009). "''Psammodromus algirus''".
- {{NRDB species
- (2018). "Prey availability, prey selection, and trophic niche width in the lizard ''Psammodromus algirus'' along an elevational gradient". Current Zoology.
- (2002). "A field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe". Collins.
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