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Saudi fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus gongrorhynchatus)
DATADEFICIENT
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Find out here.Saudi fringe-fingered lizard fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
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Saudi fringe-fingered lizard description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Lacertidae |
| Genus | Acanthodactylus (1) |
The Saudi fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus gongorhynchatus) has remarkable ‘fringes’ of elongated scales on each toe, and a long, fragile tail, enabling the lizard to move easily across the loose, shifting surface of sandy deserts. A small to medium sized reptile, the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard has a long, cylindrical body, with well-defined rows of smooth, rectangular scales on the belly (2) (4) (5). It is usually fairly pale in colour, with a bold, brown stripe running along the body. As a juvenile, the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard has a blue tail, which changes to blue-white with age (2) (3).
- Synonyms
- Acanthodactylus fraseri.
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International Reptile Conservation Foundation:
http://www.ircf.org -
The Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi:
http://www.ead.ae/en/ -
IUCN Red List (February, 2013)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/ - Hellyer, P. and Aspinall, S. (2005) The Emirates: A Natural History. Trident Press Limited, United Arab Emirates.
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Fuelner, G. (2001) Fringe-toed Lizards. Gazelle Newsletter November 2001. Emirates Natural History Group, Dubai. Available at:
http://www.enhg.org/dubai/gazelle/2001_11.htm#lizard - Halliday, T. and Adler, K. (2002) The New Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Barth, H. J. and Böer, B. (2002) Sabkha Ecosystems Volume I: The Arabian Peninsula and Adjacent Countries. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Netherlands.
- Alsharhan, A. et al. (2008) Terrestrial Environment of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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The Reptile Database (October, 2010)
http://www.reptile-database.org/ - Pianka, E.R. and Vitt, L.J. (2003) Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Luke, C. (1986) Convergent evolution of lizard toe fringes. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 27: 1-6.
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Related species
Saudi fringe-fingered lizard biology
There is very little information available on the biology of the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard; however, it is thought that the sand-dwelling species of the Acanthodactylus genus may rely heavily on ants as prey (3). A study on the evolution of lizard toe fringes has found that, contrary to most other ‘fringed’ reptile species, the fringes of the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard are different shapes on either side of the toe, with ‘triangular’ shaped scales on one side, and ‘projecting’ scales on the other (9).
TopSaudi fringe-fingered lizard range
The Saudi fringe-fingered lizard is known from eastern Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (2) (6) (7).
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Species with a similar range
Saudi fringe-fingered lizard habitat
Occurring in arid regions, the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard is primarily a sand-dwelling species (2) (3). It has also been reported from the sabkhas (salt flats) of the UAE, where it may occasionally forage (8).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Saudi fringe-fingered lizard status
The Saudi fringe-fingered lizard is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Saudi fringe-fingered lizard threats
Relatively little is currently known about the distribution and status of the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard. However, in parts of the United Arab Emirates it is believed to be under threat from real estate development (1).
TopSaudi fringe-fingered lizard conservation
There are no known specific conservation measures currently in place for the Saudi fringe-fingered lizard, but it occurs in a number of protected areas in the United Arab Emirates (1).
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
|
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi is a principal sponsor of ARKive. EAD is working to protect and conserve the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. |
Find out more
To learn more about reptile conservation visit:
For further information on conservation in the region, see:
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References
More »Related species
This species is featured in:
This species is featured in Jewels of the UAE, which showcases biodiversity found in the United Arab Emirates in association with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.
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Image credit
Saudi fringe-fingered lizard on sand
© Drew Gardner
Dr Drew Gardner
asgardner@gmail.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewgardner/
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