Acanthodactylus erythrurus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Red-tailed Spiny-footed Lizard | ||||||||||||||
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| Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Schinz, 1833) |
The Red-tailed Spiny-footed Lizard (Acanthodactylus erythrurus, or the "Spanish acanthodactylus"), is considered to be the fastest member of the huge Lacertidae family. The lizard's name refers to the spines that are arranged like a comb on its hind legs.
The Acanthodactylus is native to a wide area of Africa and southern Europe, being found across the Sahara Desert and on the Iberian peninsula. Though the lizard prefers dry and sparsely-vegetated regions, it is not restricted to arid terrain, and it is not uncommon to find it in other environments.
The lizard's coloration and the pattern of its spots are extremely variable. As result, zoologists have from time to time classified such variations as separate species.
The spiny-footed lizard does not have a particularly pleasant nature. Like every member of this genus, it is very aggressive and bites tenaciously if one tries to catch it. Individuals are continuously involved in skirmishes with other members of the species and the males strenuously defend the borders of their territories.
The Acanthodactylus is oviparous. The number of eggs in a clutch varies from three to seven. The average length of an adult of the species is between 18 and 20 centimetres.
[edit] References
- Slimani et al (2005). Acanthodactylus erythrurus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern
