Philochortus zolii
| Philochortus zolii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Philochortus |
| Species: | P. zolii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Philochortus zolii Scortecci, 1934
| |
| Synonyms | |
Philochortus zolii is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to northern Africa.
Taxonomy
Trape et al. (2012) considered West African P. lhotei a junior synonym of P. zolii as its morphological characters fall within the range of variability of Egyptian P. zolii reported by Baha El Din (2006).[1][3]
Etymology
The specific name, zolii, is in honor of Italian diplomat Corrado Zoli, who was president of the Società geografica italiana.[4]
The
Description
For a general description see the diagnosis of the genus Philochortus. Philochortus zolii differs from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters (characters of P. lhotei [=Synonym] included):[1][5][6][7]
Maximum snout-vent-length (SVL) 73 mm (2.9 in), average tail/SVL ratio = 2.8.
Upper head greenish grey or brownish, sides of head bluish white. Clearly striated in all ages. Back maroon with 6 sandy-white stripes. Lateral sides with streaks of large black blotches, which become more evident in adults. Limbs greenish yellow with dark marbling. Tail brilliant red in young, reddish or brownish red in adults.
Distribution
P. zolii is known from five localities widely scattered across northern Africa. It is known in Libya from the Oasis of Elbarkat (Al Barkat) 8 km south of Ghat in Fezzan and from near Ajedabia in western Cyrenaica. In Egypt it is known from Wadi El Natrun; this subpopulation was previously misidentified as belonging to P. intermedius.[3] This account follows Trape et al. (2012) in considering a specimen from Abezou in Niger and another from near Bourem in Mali (previously considered the only known representatives of P. lhotei) as also representing P. zolii.[1]
Habitat and ecology
The five widely scattered records of P. zolii which also occurred only in very small
Philochortus zolii digs burrows in the sandy soil below the clumps of grasses and uses its forelimbs to push sand out of its burrow.[3]
Reproduction
Conservation
P. zolii is threatened by
References
- ^ . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ a b Species Philochortus zolii at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ ISBN 978-9774249792.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Philochortus lhotei, p. 157; P. zolii, p. 294).
- ^ Scortecci 1934.
- ^ Angel 1936.
- ^ Schleich et al. 1996.
Further reading
- Angel F (1936). "Description d'une nouvelle espèce du genre Philochortus provenant des confins Saharo-Soudanais, et tableau synoptique des espèces du genre ". Bull. Soc. Zool., Paris 61: 100-105. (Philochortus lhotei, new species). (in French).
- Scortecci G (1934). "Descrizione preliminare di una nuova specie del genere Philochortus (Philochortus zolii) della zona Gat (Missione della Reale Società Geografica)". Atti Soc. Italiana Sci. Nat. 73: 305-308. (Philochortus zolii, new species). (in Italian).
- Schleich HH, Kästle W, Kabisch K (1996). Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Königstein: Koeltz Scientific Books. 627 pp. ISBN 978-3874293778. (Philochortus zolii, p. 435).
- Trape J-F, Trape S, Chirio L (2012). Lézards, crocodiles et tortues d'Afrique occidentale et du Sahara. Marseille: IRD Editions. (in French).