About
This species is extremely rare and was only recently rediscovered in 2015; the previous record of the species was from 1901!
This species is part of the diverse genus Acanthodactylus, which diverged from all other lizards more than 50 million years ago.
The most remarkable feature of this species is the widened and spiny tail basis of the male, this feature is less developed in females. Doumergue’s Fringe-fingered lizard is a highly localised species, as it is only known from the oases Arba Tahtani and El Abiod-Sidi-Chiekh in Algeria and from Berr’mad, 50 km south of the original location where this species was believed to be found.
Habitat degradation due to human development is driving declines. This species is not known from any protected areas and therefore establishing a protected area would be a priority in the safeguarding of future populations of this species.
- Order: Squamata
- Family: Lacertidae
- Population: Rare
- Trend: decreasing
EDGE Score
Distribution
This species was found in the Algerian Sahara Atlas Mountains, occurring up to 200 metres above sea level.
Habitat and Ecology
This species is found in open stony and flat sandy places. Females lay a clutch of around eight eggs and the species are mainly active in spring and autumn. They feed on ants, larvae and small beetles.
