Acanthodactylus mechriguensis
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
REPTILIA |
SQUAMATA |
LACERTIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Acanthodactylus mechriguensis |
| Species Authority: |
Nouira & Blanc, 1999 |
| Taxonomic Notes: |
This species is closely related to the Acanthodactylus pardalis (Lichtenstein, 1823) complex. |
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Critically Endangered
B2ab(iii,v)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2006 |
| Date Assessed: |
2006-01-31 |
| Assessor(s): |
Nouira, S. & Geniez, P. |
| Reviewer(s): |
Stuart, S.N. & Cox, N. (Global Reptile Assessment) |
Justification:
Listed as Critically Endangered because its area of occupancy is less than 10 km², its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is a continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and the number of mature individuals.
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
It is a locally uncommon species. The two largest populations have declined significantly in the past ten years.
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It lives in the dune systems with shrub and small dry river beds. The habitat of the species includes the only area of peat bog in Tunisia. The female lays a clutch of four to five eggs.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
Local people regularly visit and disturb the beaches where this species is found. There is a new port under construction within the range of the species and the population in Sidi Mechig has already considerably decreased. The development of greenhouse cultivation in the region and the building of a dam has also affected some populations.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
There are no protected areas within the species' range. There is a need to establish a protected area for this species and other localised endemics in the area of the Sidi Mechig beaches.
|
Bibliography
[top]
|
IUCN. 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on 04 May 2006.
Nouira, S. and Blanc, C.P. 1999. Description d'une nouvelle espèce d'acanthodactyle en Tunisie: Acanthodactylus mechriguensis n. sp. (Sauria, Reptilia) Atti. Mem. Ente Fauna Siciliana 5(1997-1998): 103–110
Nouria, S. and Blanc, C.P. 2003. Distribution spatiale des Lacertidés (Sauria, Reptilia) en Tunisie; caractéristiques des biotopes et rôle des facteurs écologiques Ecologia mediterranea 29(1): 71–86
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ISSN 2307-8235
