Spanish algyroides (Algyroides marchi)

Description

What’s the World’s Favourite Species?

Spanish algyroides fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Spanish algyroides description

Only discovered in 1958, the Spanish algyroides (Algyroides marchi) is a small, flattened lizard. The scales are relatively flat, giving it a smooth appearance, and the scales on the back are much larger than those on the sides ⁽³⁾.

The Spanish algyroides is usually chestnut-brown ⁽³⁾, occasionally with a greenish tinge ⁽⁴⁾, and it may have a darker streak down the centre of the back ⁽³⁾. The throat is usually whitish, although it is sometimes more yellowish in the male ⁽⁴⁾. In some parts of its range, the male may develop a bright blue throat ^{(3) (4)}.

During the breeding season, the pale underparts of the male turn yellow, possibly with a greenish tinge ^{(3) (4)}. Young Spanish algyroides tend to be darker than the adults ⁽⁴⁾.

There are two subspecies of Spanish algyroides: Algyroides marchi marchi and Algyroides marchi niethammeri ⁽⁵⁾.

Spanish

Lagartija De Valverde.

Size

Length: c. 15 cm ^{(2) (3)}

Spanish algyroides biology

The Spanish algyroides has been described as a shy but agile lizard. An adept climber, it can be found clambering among boulders, and hunting or hiding under loose bark and the undersides of branches and rocks ⁽⁴⁾.

This species is thought to favour cool, humid conditions so that it has a plentiful source of arthropod prey, including small spiders ⁽⁶⁾ and insects ⁽³⁾.

The female Spanish algyroides produces clutches of between one and five eggs ^{(1) (3) (4)}, although usually two or three are laid ⁽⁴⁾. When the eggs of this species hatch three to six weeks later, the young lizards have a head-body length of 2 to 2.5 centimetres ⁽⁴⁾.

Spanish algyroides range

The Spanish algyroides is endemic to southeast Spain, where the various isolated subpopulations are largely restricted to the Alcaraz, Cazorla and Segura mountain ranges ^{(1) (4)}. This species used to occur more widely ⁽¹⁾, but now has one of the narrowest geographical ranges of all continental European lacertids ⁽⁶⁾.

The Spanish algyroides is found at elevations between 700 and 1,700 metres above sea level ^{(1) (4)}.

Spanish algyroides habitat

The Spanish algyroides occurs in shady, rocky habitats ^{(1) (3) (6)}, either in or close to woodland ^{(1) (3) (4)}. This species favours high altitude areas near to streams ^{(1) (3) (6)}, with low shrub cover and low exposure to the sun ⁽⁶⁾.

A good climber, the Spanish algyroides can sometimes be found in bushes and trees ⁽³⁾.

Spanish algyroides status

The Spanish algyroides is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Spanish algyroides threats

Although locally common in areas of good habitat, the Spanish algyroides is in decline. Habitat loss is a threat to this species, occurring through deforestation, stream bank erosion, water abstraction and forest fires ⁽¹⁾.

The Spanish algyroides is also predated upon by cats (Felis catus) and rats (Rattus spp.) ⁽¹⁾.

Spanish algyroides conservation

The Spanish algyroides is listed both on Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive ⁽⁷⁾, and on Appendix II of the Bern Convention, which means that it should be afforded strict protection ⁽⁸⁾. This species is also protected by national legislation and occurs in some protected areas ⁽¹⁾.

Suggested conservation measures to ensure the future survival of the Spanish algyroides include the prevention of logging in gullies associated with streams and boulders ⁽⁶⁾.

Find out more

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/

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

Glossary

Arthropods

A major grouping of animals that includes crustaceans, insects and arachnids. All arthropods have paired jointed limbs and a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton).

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Subspecies

A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

References

1. IUCN Red List (November, 2011)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. Álvarez, F.P. and Cuesta López, A.E. (2003) Zoología Aplicada. Ediciones Díaz de Santos, Madrid, Spain.
3. Gibson, C. (2010) Wild Animals. Dorling Kindersley Ltd., London.
4. Arnold, E.N. (2002) A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd., London.
5. The Reptile Database - Spanish algyroides (November, 2011)
   http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Algyroides&species=marchi&search_param=%28%28search%3D%27algyroides%27%29%29
6. Rubio, J.L. and Carrascal, L.M. (1994) Habitat selection and conservation of an endemic Spanish lizard Algyroides marchi (Reptilia, Lacertidae). Biological Conservation, 70(3): 245-250.
7. EU Habitats Directive (November, 2011)
   http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1374
8. Council of Europe: Bern Convention (November, 2011)
   http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/Treaties/Html/104.htm