Psammodromus algirus

{{Speciesbox

| image = Psammodromus algirus - 01.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Mateo, J.A. |author2=Cheylan, M. |author3=Nouira, M.S. |author4=Joger, U. |author5=Sá-Sousa, P. |author6=Pérez Mellado, V. |author7=Martinez Solano, I. |author8=Sindaco, R. |year=2009 |errata=2016 |title=Psammodromus algirus |volume=2009 |page=e.T61558A86629654 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61558A12491246.en |access-date=14 June 2023}}

| taxon = Psammodromus algirus

| authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

| synonyms = *Lacerta algira
{{small|Linnaeus, 1758}}

Tropidosaura algira
{{small|— A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1839}}
Algira (Tropidosaura) algira
{{small|— Boettger, 1885}}
Psammodromus algirus
{{small|— Boulenger, 1887}}
Pantodactylus nicefori
{{small|C. Burt & M. Burt, 1931}}
Psammodromus manuelae
{{small|Busack, Salvador & Lawson, 2006}}
Psammodromus jeanneae
{{small|Busack, Salvador & Lawson, 2006}}
Psammodromus algirus
{{small|— Mendes et al., 2017}}

| synonyms_ref = {{NRDB species |genus=Psammodromus |species=algirus}}

| 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 {{convert|2600|m|abbr=on}} 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.{{cite journal |last1=Moreno-Rueda |first1=Gregorio |last2=Melero |first2=Elena |last3=Reguera |first3=Senda |last4=Zamora-Camacho |first4=Francisco J |last5=Álvarez-Benito |first5=Inés |title=Prey availability, prey selection, and trophic niche width in the lizard Psammodromus algirus along an elevational gradient |journal=Current Zoology |date=2018 |volume=64 |issue=5 |pages=603–613 |doi=10.1093/cz/zox077|pmc=6178790 }}

Conservation status

P. algirus is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

P. algirus commonly reaches a snout–vent length of about {{convert|7.5|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}, occasionally {{convert|9|cm|in|1|abbr=on}}. 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

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite book| last1 = Arnold| first1 = E. Nicholas |author1-link=Edwin Nicholas Arnold | last2 = Ovenden| first2 = Denys |name-list-style=amp | year = 2002| title = A field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe | edition = 2| publisher = Collins| isbn = 9780002199643| location = London| pages = 228 pp. + Plates 1–49}} (Psammodromus algirus, pp. 127–128 + Plate 21, figure 2 + Map 90).

}}