{"id":3084,"date":"2020-01-17T20:19:29","date_gmt":"2020-01-17T20:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/?page_id=3084"},"modified":"2020-02-01T18:59:00","modified_gmt":"2020-02-01T18:59:00","slug":"psammodromus_microdactylus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.moroccoherps.com\/en\/ficha\/psammodromus_microdactylus\/","title":{"rendered":"Species page of Psammodromus microdactylus"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Green Psammodromus
\nPsammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0(Boettger, 1881)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n
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By\u00a0Mario Schweiger<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Updated:\u00a023\/09\/2012<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Taxonomy:\u00a0Sauria\u00a0|\u00a0Lacertidae\u00a0|\u00a0Psammodromus\u00a0|\u00a0Psammodromus microdactylus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Psammodromus
Psammodromus microdactylus. Azilal. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Range<\/p>\n

\"\"\u00a0\u00a0Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span><\/p>\n

Distribution map of
\nPsammodromus microdactylus<\/span>
\nin Morocco.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Gallery: 1 photo.\u00a0[ENTER]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Phylogenetic frame<\/h2>\n

Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0has been described in 1881 by B\u00f6ttger as\u00a0Algira microdactyla<\/span>. Boulenger (1887) transferred it into the Genus\u00a0Psammodromus<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Description<\/h2>\n

A small lizard species, very close related to\u00a0Psammodromus blanci<\/span>. Both may be most easy distinguished from the 3rd\u00a0Psammodromus<\/span>\u00a0in North Africa,\u00a0Psammodromus algirus<\/span>, by the two inner Ventralia rows narrower than the outer.<\/p>\n

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\"Psammodromus
Psammodromus microdactylus. Azilal. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

To separate\u00a0P.\u00a0microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0from\u00a0P.\u00a0blanci<\/span>\u00a0is much more difficult. Most differences given in literature are not correct. For a detailed diagnosis see Bosch, in den (2005).<\/p>\n

The two best characters are the absence of a collar in\u00a0P.\u00a0microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0and the different coloration of the two species. True\u00a0P. blanci<\/span>\u00a0(from east Algeria and Tunisia) are never green(ish) dorsaly, and the ventral side is whitish to greenish, newer with yellow.<\/p>\n

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\"Ventral
Ventral view of Psammodromus microdactylus. Azilal. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Galewski (2001) has the opinion, in and east of the Moulouya depression\u00a0Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0are intermediate with\u00a0Psammodromus blanci<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Description of coloration of\u00a0Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0(on pictures and one live male from Azilal): Olive green with 3 prominent green longitudinal stripes. During mating season in early spring, males have a pea green coloration. Males differ from females by having the outer row of the ventrals yolk yellow.<\/p>\n

Maximum total length up to 150 mm.<\/p>\n

Ecology and habits<\/h2>\n
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\"Psammodromus
Psammodromus microdactylus. Azilal. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Nearly nothing is known on this species.<\/p>\n

Only a few more than 40 specimens have been collected up to now, most at the end of the 19th century, beginning of the 20th century. Since the sixties of the last century observations are very rare. Most observations and collections have been made in and around dense\u00a0Chamaerops humilis<\/span>\u00a0palm overgrown areas with humid to subhumid climate. Altitudinal distribution from 50 to 2250 metres asl.<\/p>\n

In contrast to most other lizard species,\u00a0Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0doesn\u2019t hide under stones or rocks \u2013 he buries itself into leaf litters or loose gravel. In contrast to\u00a0Psammodromus algirus<\/span>,\u00a0P. microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0is a slowly moving lizard, seldom seen far away from shelter. (Bosch, in den, 2005).<\/p>\n

The male, we observed near Azilal was basking approx. 20\u00a0cm away from a\u00a0Chamaerops<\/span>\u00a0bush on April 21st, 2010 at 1:00\u00a0p.m. When approaching it from 5 to 6 meters, it went into the bush \u2013 and was gone. I searched in the litter below and between the leafs, but coudn\u00b4t spot it, while my companion watched carefully the surroundings, if the lizard is changing the hiding place. Approx. 10 minutes later I saw it: sitting motionless on top of a\u00a0Chamaerops<\/span>\u00a0leaf, probable the whole time, I was working in the bush!<\/p>\n

Distribution, habitat and abundance<\/h2>\n

Psammodromus microdactylus<\/span>\u00a0is endemic to Morocco. It is known only from a few localities, therefore all are listed here: Afourer, Amred, Azilal, Azrou, Balcon d\u00b4Ito, Casablanca, Cromlech de M\u00b4Soura, Dayet Ifrah, El Hajeb, Karia ba Mohamed, Mogador, Sefrou, Sidi el Yamani, Tadlest, Tanger, Taza, Tetouan, Jbel Zalah (Fez), Jbel Toubkal, Jbel Tichka.<\/p>\n

All observations have been made in (now overgrazed) slopes with\u00a0Chamaerops humilis<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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\"Habitat
Habitat of Psammodromus microdactylus. Azilal. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Habitat
Habitat of Psammodromus microdactylus. Sefrou. Photo: \u00a9 Mario Schweiger.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Abundance seems to be low to very low. During one day up to 4 specimens have been observed. But in reality, nearly nothing is known. These low numbers may be a result of the secret habits of this lizard.<\/p>\n

References<\/h3>\n