1) Phylogenetic frame

Neither Ophisops elegans nor O. occidentalis is monophyletic  (Kyriazi et al. 2008). Current evidence indicates that a single taxon should be recognized across North Africa, including populations morphologically assigned to O. occidentalis or O. elegans, and it suggests the need for a detailed taxonomic revision of the O. elegans species complex. (Harris et al., 2025).

2) Description

Small lizard species that reach a maximum aproximately size of 50 cm of snout-vent-leght and a tail that can be the double of large of the SVL (Schleich et al., 1996).

They have a characteristic keeled scales in the body and immovable eyelids. Striped pattern.

3) Ecology and habits

Shy and elusive species.

4) Distribution, habitat and abundance

Ophisops occidentalis occurs from eastern Morocco to Egypt, with populations also in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt.

The habitat consist in steppes with abundant of bushes. It seems very dependent of the local vegetation and habitat alteration provokes the local extintion of this species (for example the population between Debdu and Ain Bni Mathar of Bons & Geniez, 1996).

Bibliography

• Bons J & Geniez P. 1996. Anfibios y Reptiles de Marruecos. Asociación Herpetológica Española, Barcelona. 319 pp
• Harris J, Bouam I & Ferreira I. 2025. Genetic diversity within species of Ophisops (Reptilia, Lacertidae) from the Maghreb. Herpetozoa, 38: 205–210.
• Kyriazi P, Poulakakis N, Parmakelis A, Crochet PA, Moravec J, Rastegar-Pouyani N, Tsigenopoulos CS, Magoulas A, Mylonas M & Lymberakis P. 2008. Mitochondrial DNA reveals the genealogical history of the snake-eyed lizards (Ophisops elegans and O. occidentalis)(Sauria: Lacertidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49(3): 795–805.
• Martínez del Mármol G, Harris DJ, Geniez P, de Pous P & Salvi D. 2019. Amphibians and Reptiles of Morocco. Frankfurt, Germany, Edition Chimaira. 478 pp.
• Schleich HH, Kästle W & Kabisch K. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa. Koeltz Sci. Books, Koenigstein. 630 pp.