About Anatololacerta anatolica (Werner, 1900)
Anatololacerta anatolica, commonly known as the Anatolian rock lizard, reaches a snout-to-vent length of approximately 7.5 centimeters (3.0 inches), with a tail twice as long as its body. Its head and body are somewhat flattened, and its markings are quite variable. The lizard's base body color is dark olive-brown, and it usually has two rows of pale spots along its dorsal-lateral sides. These spots may merge together to form continuous lines. The areas between these lines have additional pale speckling. The throat can be reddish, while the rest of the underparts are pale, and sometimes a few dark spots appear on the flanks. Populations of this lizard on the island of Icaria have especially bold, contrasting markings. The Anatolian rock lizard is endemic to the western Anatolian peninsula of Turkey, located north of the Büyük Menderes River, as well as several Greek islands near the Anatolian coast. It can be found on the islands of Samos, Icaria, and Thymaina. This species occurs at altitudes up to 1,700 meters (5,600 feet). Its typical habitat includes rocky outcrops, cliffs, boulders, and dry stone walls. It is often found in rocky areas within woodland, and near streams in locations that are otherwise arid.
