Pyrenean rock lizard
The Pyrenean rock lizard (Iberolacerta bonnali) is a species of lizards in the family Lacertidae. It is endemic to the Pyrenees where it occurs at high altitudes and is only active in summer.
| Pyrenean rock lizard | |
|---|---|
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| in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Iberolacerta |
| Species: | I. bonnali |
| Binomial name | |
| Iberolacerta bonnali (Lantz, 1927) | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Etymology and taxonomy
The specific name, bonnali, is in honor of the Count of Bonnal who collected amphibians and reptiles while living at Montgaillard, Hautes-Pyrénées.[3] The Aran rock lizard was initially included here as a subspecies, Iberolacerta bonnali aranica, but is now considered a distinct species, Iberolacerta aranica.
Description
The Pyrenean rock lizard is a large lizard growing to a snout-to-vent length of 6 cm (2.4 in) with a tail about double its body-length. Its dorsal colour is greyish-brown, sometimes finely flecked with dark markings but without significant striping. The flanks are dark, sometimes with slight pale flecking. The underparts are white, greyish or greenish.[4]
Geographic range
The Pyrenean rock lizard is found in France and Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains at altitudes of between 1,700 and 3,000 metres (5,600 and 9,800 ft). Its natural habitats are rocky crags and screes in limestone, slate and schist areas. It is frequently found on rocks close to alpine meadows and near torrents and glacial lakes. It is only active for a short period of the year in summer.[4]
Conservation status
The Pyrenean rock lizard is assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being "near threatened". This is because, although the population seems to be stable and the lizard is present in a number of national parks and protected areas, it is vulnerable to disturbance to its habitat from skiing developments, the building of tracks and the overgrazing of cattle. It may also be affected in the future by climate change.[1]
References
- Pérez-Mellado, Valentin; Cheylan, Marc; Martínez-Solano, Iñigo (2009). "Iberolacerta bonnali". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2009: e.T61447A12486917. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61447A12486917.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- "Iberolacerta bonalli ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Iberolacerta bonnali, p. 31).
- Arnold, Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians: Britain & Europe. London: Collins & Co. 272 pp. ISBN 9780002199643. (Iberolacerta bonnali, p. 50).
Further reading
- Arribas OJ, Carranza S (2012). "The Type Specimen of Iberolacerta bonnali is stored in the Natural History Museum, London". Bull. Soc. Cat. d'Herp. (Butlettí de la Societat Catalana d'Herpetologia) 20: 124-125.
- Lantz AL (1927). "Quelques observations nouvelles sur l'herpétologie des Pyrénées centrales ". Rev. Hist. Nat. Appl., Paris 8: 54-61. (Lacerta monticola bonnali, new subspecies, p. 58). (in French).