Timon tangitanus, commonly known as the Moroccan eyed lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Northwest Africa.

Timon tangitanus
Timon tangitanus at the Prague Zoo
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Timon
Species:
T. tangitanus
Binomial name
Timon tangitanus
(Boulenger, 1887)
Synonyms[2]
  • Lacerta ocellata Var. tangitana
    Boulenger, 1887
  • Timon tangitanus
    Schlüter, 2004
  • Lacerta (Timon) tangitana
    Montori et al., 2005
  • Timon tangitanus
    Arnold et al., 2007
  • Lacerta (Timon) pater tangitanus
    Sindaco & Jeremčenko, 2008
  • Timon tangitanus
    Ahmadzadeh et al., 2016

Description edit

T. tangitanus can reach a total length (including tail) of about 70 cm (28 in). The body is green or brown, with blue ocelli on the back.

Taxonomy edit

For decades T. tangitanus has been regarded as belonging to the genus Lacerta.

Diet edit

T. tangitanus mainly feed on invertebrates, but also on fruits.

Distribution edit

T. tangitanus is found in Northwest Africa (mountains of northwestern Algeria, mediterranean regions of Morocco and Western Sahara).

Habitat edit

The natural habitats of T. tangitanus are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. It prefers woodland edge, scrub and rocky areas.

Conservation status edit

T. tangitanus is threatened by habitat loss.

References edit

  1. ^ Jose Antonio Mateo Miras, El Hassan El Mouden, Juan Pleguezuelos, Tahar Slimani, Iñigo Martínez-Solano (2009). "Timon tangitanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T61585A12500163. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61585A12500163.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Timon tangitanus ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.

External links edit

Further reading edit

  • Boulenger GA (1887). Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume III. Lacertidæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 575 pp. + Plates I-XL. (Lacerta ocellata Var. tangitana, new variety, pp. 13-14 + Plate III, figures 1, 1a).