Least Concern
A small to medium-sized dorso-ventrally compressed lizard, with a maximum SVL of 67 mm. Snout rather short, usually with 4 supralabials anterior to the subocular, which usually reaches the upper lip; nasal areas distinctly swollen; upper nasals not in contact behind rostral. Lower eyelid with a window made of 5-8 semi-transparent scales of roughly equal size. Occipital scale present, in contact with the interparietal; temporals small, smooth; tympanic shield small. Dorsal scales small, granular. Average number of dorsals at mid-body 60 (range 53-67) and ventrals 12, respectively; average number of femoral pores 16 (13-19) (based on a sample of 34 Egyptian specimens). Dorsal side of tibia covered with smooth scales. Subcaudals smooth. Dorsal surfaces pinkish gray, with reddish and whitish spots, reddish spots larger on the flanks and sides of tail. Venter white.
Western and Eastern deserts and North Sinai; easternmost record from North Sinai is of a specimen collected 35 km southwest of El Arish (Baha El Din 1992), southernmost from Wadi Gharandal (Flower 1933). In the Eastern Desert confined to the larger wadis such as Wadi El Allaqi and Wadi Araba, and on the Red Sea coastal plain. One specimen was collected onWadi El Gemal Island in the Red Sea. The species is widespread throughout the Western Desert, including the extreme southwest. Scortecci (1935) reports one specimen from "El-Auenat" (= Gebel Uweinat) and Capocaccia (1977) reports another from Gilf El Kebir Plateau. Does not penetrate the better vegetated parts of the Mediterranean coastal plain, nor the extensive dunes of the Great Sand Sea.
Mauritania and Morocco east across North Africa to Sudan and Egypt.
A species of extreme desert, found in open flat sandy and gravelly deserts with or without scant vegetation cover. Often the only apparent vertebrate in many areas of the Western Desert.
Uncommon but widespread.
The red-spotted lizard (Mesalina rubropunctata) is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. It occurs in Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Sudan.[1] It is Poisonous.
The red-spotted lizard (Mesalina rubropunctata) is a species of sand-dwelling lizard in the family Lacertidae. It occurs in Morocco, Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and Sudan. It is Poisonous.
