26-5-2016 MONTE CORONA, ADOR - LARGE PSAMMODROMUS LIZARD (Psammodromus algirus

Distribution: Iberia excluding the northern Atlantic coastal stretch. South west France.

English name: Large or Algerian Psammodromus

Scientific name: Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus 1758)

Castilian: Lagartija Colilarga

Family: Lacertidae

When to see them: The Large, or Algerian Psammodromus is the most numerous of the lizard species found in Iberia. They can be active throughout the year if the temperature exceeds 15 degrees, only hibernating in areas where the temperature drops lower than this. They are generally diurnal but may also be out on summer nights.

The Large Psammodromus lizard is a long, slender lizard which has incredible agility and speed. Their tails are very long and slim sometimes up to twice the length of the body, it’s limbs are also long and thin allowing short burst of high speed. It’s head is slightly pointed.

The lizard’s back is a soft milk-chocolate brown colour and there are two creamy -yellow stripes running down each flank. The back legs up to the base of the tail are a soft rust-orange colour. The body scales are somewhat ‘jagged’ keeled, pointed and almost upturned on each scale end.

Their subtle colouration camouflages them in the habitats they frequent, against the soil and dried vegetation under shrubs in forests, woodland or more open scrubland. They may be seen out in the open, but generally stick fairly close to shrubs that they can hunt through and use as cover and shelter.

Psammodromus lizards are very agile and climb nimbly through shrubs and hedges, sometimes giving away their position as they rustle through dry leaves.

This species  adapts readily to a variety of habitats from sea level up to around 2600m in altitude in the warmer southern areas of their distribution range.

Their diet consists mainly of arthropods – beetles, spiders, grasshoppers and ants, they will also eat other small lizards and fruit or seeds.

Breeding begins in the spring and there may be two or rarely three clutches consisting of between 2 to 11 eggs. The incubation time can vary from one to six weeks with the young appearing from August through to October. The young are 2.5 to 3cm in body length and have the same colouration and patterns as the adults. This species may live up to 7 years, reaching their sexual maturity when they are two years old.