Saharan spiny tailed lizard  (Uromastyx geyri)

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard has yet to be globally assessed, but it is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Mediterranean Red List (3).

Along with all other species within the genus Uromastyx, the Saharan spiny tailed lizard is listed on Appendix II of CITES (2) (4).

Lizards within the genus Uromastyx are fairly large species with prominent spiny tails (5). Compared to other Uromastyx species, the Saharan spiny tailed lizard (Uromastyx geyri) is relatively small and slender, with a long tail. The colouration of this species varies from light beige to orange, and it is peppered with a pattern of light dots (2).

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Bell’s dab lizard (Uromastyx acanthinurus) (2), a robust, stout-bodied lizard with a blunt nose and thick tail (6).

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard is found in southern Algeria, north-eastern Mali and northern-central Niger. It is found at elevations between 500 and 2,000 metres above sea level (2).

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard is found on rocky outcrops within semi-desert areas (2).

Very little information is available on the biology of the Saharan spiny tailed lizard; however, in general, Uromastyx species are known to be oviparous. The female lays clutches containing between 8 and 20 eggs in burrow systems late in the spring, in the early summer or at the beginning of the dry season (2).

After an incubation period of between eight and ten weeks, the Saharan spiny tailed lizard eggs hatch. The hatchlings remain within the burrow system for several weeks or months before leaving to create their own burrows (2).

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard, along with other small Uromastyx species, is thought to reach sexual maturity at two or three years of age. In captivity, wild-caught Saharan spiny tailed lizards have been known to live for 20 years, and the lifespan estimate for individuals in the wild is 25 years (2).

Adult Saharan spiny tailed lizards seem to be exclusively herbivorous (2) (7), and feed on a wide range of desert vegetation. However, in captivity young Saharan spiny tailed lizards are known to eat insects and other invertebrates (2).

Habitat degradation and over-collection for food, medicine and the international pet trade have been identified as threats to the Saharan spiny tailed lizard, particularly in the Mediterranean region (2). There has been a recent increase in the level of trade in the Saharan spiny tailed lizard, which is exported almost exclusively from Mali, and this may lead to a reduction in wild population numbers (8).

Livestock grazing may also affect the Saharan spiny tailed lizard, as food availability may decrease through direct competition for vegetation (2).

The Saharan spiny tailed lizard is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that a permit is required to internationally export it and that trade in this species should be carefully regulated (4) (8).

There are currently no other known conservation measures in place for the Saharan spiny tailed lizard (2).

Recommendations for the conservation of the Saharan spiny tailed lizard include the reduction of its export quota in Mali, as well as carrying out population studies and basic monitoring of the species in its range states (8).

Learn more about reptile conservation:

• International Reptile Conservation Foundation:
  http://www.ircf.org/

Find out more about the habitat of this species:

• ARKive - Mediterranean Basin:
  http://www.arkive.org/eco-regions/mediterranean-basin/