Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus opheodurus)
Facts – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
| Also known as: | Arnold’s fringe-fingered lizard |
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| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Lacertidae |
| Genus | Acanthodactylus (1) |
Status – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
This species has not yet been classified on the IUCN Red List.
Description – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
Owing to its superficial similarity to its larger congener, Acanthodactylus boskianus, the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard was only officially described in 1980 (2). As its name suggests, this species has a particularly long tail (3), and, in common with other Acanthodactylus species, the toes are fringed with scales adapted for running over loose sand (4) (5). Like other lacertids, the body is long and cylindrical, and the legs are well developed (4). The basic body colour is grey, with seven dark stripes running down the back and sides (2), and a tail tinged red in immatures (3).
Range – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
The snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard is currently known from the Arabian Peninsula and several other countries in the Middle East, including Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq (2).
Habitat – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
The snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard has been collected from a range of arid habitats, including plains with relatively hard sand cover and low hills covered by dense bushes (2).
Biology – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
There is very little information available on the biology of the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard. However, this diurnal lizard reportedly lives in burrows excavated out of hard sand. Remaining concealed for all but a few hours of the day, the burrows not only act as a shelter from predators but also provide refuge from extreme temperatures (6).
Threats – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
While the conservation status of the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard is yet to be assessed on the IUCN Red List, there are no known major threats to this species.
Conservation – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
There are no known conservation measures in place for the snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard.
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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. |
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View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Find out more – Snake-tailed fringe-toed lizard
To learn more about reptile conservation visit:
- International Reptile Conservation Foundation:
www.ircf.org
Authentication
Glossary
- Congener: Species belonging to the same genus.
- Diurnal: Active during the day.
- Lacertids: Old World terrestrial lizards.
References
-
Catalogue of Life: Annual Checklist (April, 2009)
http://www.catalogueoflife.org - Tiedemann, F. (1991) First record of Acanthodactylus opheodurus ARNOLD, 1980, and Coluber ventromaculatus GRAY, 1834 (Squamata: Lacertidae, Colubridae) from the United Arab Emirates. Herpetozoa, 4: 167 - 175.
- Hellyer, P. and Aspinall, S. (2005) The Emirates: A Natural History. Trident Press Limited, United Arab Emirates.
- Pianka, E.R. and Vitt, L.J. (2003) Lizards: Windows to the Evolution of Diversity. University of California Press, Berkeley.
- Halliday, T. and Adler, K. (2002) The New Encyclopedia of Reptile and Amphibians. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
- Zaady, E. and Bouskila, A. (2002) Lizard burrows association with successional stages of biological soil crusts in an arid sandy region. Journal of Arid Environments, 50: 235 - 246.
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