Timon lepidus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	LACERTIDAE

Scientific Name:

Timon lepidus

Species Authority:

(Daudin, 1802)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Ocellated Lizard
French	–	Lezard Ocelle
Spanish	–	Lagarto Ocelado, Lagarto Ocelado

Synonym/s:

Lacerta lepidus Daudin, 1802

Taxonomic Notes:

This species was described as Lacerta, but it is now placed in the genus Timon (Mayer and Bischoff 1996; Fu 1998, 2000; Harris et al. 1998; Harris and Carretero 2003), though Montori and Llorente (2005) and Sindaco and Jeremčenko (2008) retain it in Lacerta. It consists of a number of distinct genetic lineages of uncertain taxonomic status. Paulo (2001) suggested that the subspecies Timon l. nevadensis is a distinct species, but other lines of evidence are more indicative of subspecific status (Mateo et al., 1996; Mateo and López-Jurado 1994).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Near Threatened ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Marc Cheylan, Claudia Corti, Iñigo Martínez-Solano

Reviewer/s:

Cox, N. and Temple, H.J. (Global Reptile Assessment)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Near Threatened because this species is probably in significant decline (but probably at a rate of less than 30% over ten years), probably mainly because of widespread habitat loss through much of its range, thus making the species close to qualifying for Vulnerable.

History:

2006	–	Near Threatened (IUCN 2006)
2006	–	Near Threatened

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is widely found in Portugal and Spain; it is found as isolated populations in southern, south-central and western France (north to Oleron Island), and in extreme northwestern Italy. It also occurs on some Atlantic islands along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. It is present on a few Mediterranean islands. It ranges from sea level up to 2,500m asl. The subspecies T.l. oteroi is endemic to Salvora Island in northwestern Spain.
Countries:	Native: France; Italy; Portugal; Spain
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Although it has been recorded at densities of up to 50 individuals per hectare, populations appear to be strongly declining in many parts of its range. Some insular populations as well as Italian ones are close to extinction. The subspecies T.l. oteroi numbers fewer than 10,000 individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is found in open and dry areas of woodland, scrubland, olive groves, vineyards, meadows, arable areas and sandy or rocky sites. It is generally present in areas that have refuges such as bushes, stone walls, rabbit burrows and other holes. The females lay clutches of five to twenty two eggs.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is generally declining because of ongoing habitat loss, pesticide pollution and poisoning. Predators might also be eating this species more, due to the decline of rabbits. Also reduced livestock grazing might be reducing open areas suitable for this species. Current attempts to revive the former tradition of eating this species would also be very detrimental.

Major Threat(s):

It is generally declining because of ongoing habitat loss, pesticide pollution and poisoning. Predators might also be eating this species more, due to the decline of rabbits. Also reduced livestock grazing might be reducing open areas suitable for this species. Current attempts to revive the former tradition of eating this species would also be very detrimental.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Further studies are needed in order to understand the recent population declines of this species better. It is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention and is present in a number of protected areas, though it has nearly disappeared from a number of these.

Conservation Actions:

Further studies are needed in order to understand the recent population declines of this species better. It is listed on Annex III of the Bern Convention and is present in a number of protected areas, though it has nearly disappeared from a number of these.

Citation:	Juan M. Pleguezuelos, Paulo Sá-Sousa, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, Rafael Marquez, Marc Cheylan, Claudia Corti, Iñigo Martínez-Solano 2009. Timon lepidus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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