About Psammodromus algirus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Psammodromus algirus commonly reaches a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 7.5 cm (3.0 in), and occasionally reaches 9 cm (3.5 in). Its tail is 2 to 3 times the length of its body. Dorsal coloration is usually metallic brownish, with a pair of conspicuous white or yellowish stripes on both sides of the body. This species is found in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) and Southwestern Europe (the Iberian Peninsula including Portugal, Spain, Andorra, and Gibraltar; southernmost France; and Italy near Lampedusa). A 2009 IUCN assessment treats the subspecies Psammodromus algirus nollii and Psammodromus algirus ketamensis as full separate species, and restricts the range of Psammodromus algirus sensu stricto to North Africa. Psammodromus algirus typically occurs in dense bushy vegetation, but it can also move into more open areas. It can be found at elevations up to 2,600 m (8,500 ft) above sea level, but it is more common at lower elevations.
