Acanthodactylus aegyptius

Acanthodactylus aegyptius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Acanthodactylus
Species:
A. aegyptius
Binomial name
Acanthodactylus aegyptius

Acanthodactylus aegyptius, commonly called the egyptian fringe-fingered lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Middle East.

Taxonomy

The taxonomy of Acanthodactylus aegyptius was refined by Baha El Din in 2007 through a detailed re-examination of Egyptian fringe-toed lizard populations originally classified as Acanthodactylus longipes. His analysis revealed that populations located east of 28º E possessed distinct characteristics worthy of species-level recognition, leading to the formal description of A. aegyptius. While geographically separated in some regions, the two species maintain a sympatric relationship in specific areas of the Egyptian Western Desert and the Qattara Depression, where their ranges overlap.[1][2]

Etymology

The specific name, aegyptius, refers to Egypt, where the holotype was collected.[3]

Geographic range

A. aegyptius is found in eastern Egypt, Israel, and northern Sinai.[3]

Reproduction

A. aegyptius is oviparous.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Baha El Din, S.; Crochet, P.-A. (2025). "Acanthodactylus aegyptius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2025 e.T21265379A21265421. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-2.RLTS.T21265379A21265421.en.
  2. ^ Baha El Din, Sherif M. (2007). "A new lizard of the Acanthodactylus scutellatus group (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Egypt". Zoology in the Middle East. 40 (1): 21–32. doi:10.1080/09397140.2007.10638200. ISSN 0939-7140.
  3. ^ a b c Acanthodactylus aegyptius at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 24 February 2019.

Further reading

  • Baha El Din, Sherif M. (2007). "A new lizard of the Acanthodactylus scutellatus group (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Egypt". Zoology in the Middle East 40: 21–32. (Acanthodactylus aegyptius, new species).