Philochortus zolii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philochortus zolii |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Philochortus |
| Species: |
P. zolii
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| Binomial name | |
| Philochortus zolii Scortecci, 1934
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| Synonyms | |
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The Philochortus zolii is a special kind of lizard. It belongs to the family called Lacertidae, which includes many types of lizards. This lizard lives in the northern parts of Africa.
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About the Philochortus zolii
Scientists often group animals based on how they are related. Sometimes, they find that two animals thought to be different are actually the same. This happened with P. zolii. In 2012, scientists like Trape and his team found that another lizard, P. lhotei, was actually the same species as P. zolii. This means P. lhotei is now considered a synonym for P. zolii.
How it Got its Name
The name zolii was chosen to honor an Italian diplomat named Corrado Zoli. He was also the president of the Italian Geographical Society.
The other name, lhotei, was given to honor a French ethnographer (someone who studies cultures) named Henri Lhote.
What it Looks Like
The Philochortus zolii has some unique features that help tell it apart from other lizards.
- Its head scales are interesting. The scales on its forehead (called prefrontal scales) are often separated by a small, triangle-shaped plate.
- It has two large scales on the top of its head called parietals. A scale called the interparietal touches the occipital scale at the back of its head.
- The scales near its ears (temporal scales) are big, but it doesn't have an eardrum (tympanum).
- It has many small scales under its chin, usually between 24 and 25.
- There are four scales above its eyes (supraoculars), and sometimes the first and fourth ones are broken into smaller pieces.
- The collar around its neck is made of 6 scales.
- On its back, it has 29 to 37 scales in a row across its body. These scales are slightly ridged, and the ones in the middle are larger and more ridged.
- Its belly has scales arranged in 6 long rows and 31 rows across.
- The front legs have 2 or 3 large, overlapping plates that are edged with black.
- Under its toes, it has 28 to 36 scales.
- It also has 10 to 15 femoral pores, which are small openings on its thighs.
The longest P. zolii found from snout to vent (SVL) was about 73 millimeters (about 2.8 inches). Its tail is usually about 2.8 times longer than its body.
Colors and Patterns
The top of its head can be greenish-grey or brownish. The sides of its head are a bluish-white color. It has clear stripes all over its body, no matter its age. Its back is a reddish-brown color with 6 sandy-white stripes. The sides of its body have streaks of large black spots, which become even clearer as the lizard gets older. Its legs are greenish-yellow with dark patterns. Young lizards have bright red tails, while adult lizards have reddish or brownish-red tails.
Where it Lives
The P. zolii has been found in only a few places across northern Africa. These places are very far apart, which suggests it's a very rare lizard.
- In Libya, it has been seen near the Oasis of Elbarkat and near Ajedabia.
- In Egypt, it is known from Wadi El Natrun.
- It has also been found in Niger (near Abezou) and in Mali (near Bourem). These lizards were once thought to be a different species, P. lhotei, but are now known to be P. zolii.
Its Home and Habits
Because it's found in so few places, scientists believe P. zolii is a very rare species. These lizards live in semi-desert areas. They prefer places with grassy plants on sandy soil or other steppe vegetation, often near oases.
One of the best-known places where it lives is in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt. Here, it lives at the edge of salt marshes. You can find it climbing in tall grasses like Desmostachya bipinnata and Alhagi graecorum.
The Philochortus zolii is good at digging. It makes burrows in the sandy soil under clumps of grass. It uses its front legs to push sand out of its burrow.
Reproduction
The P. zolii is an oviparous species. This means that the female lizard lays eggs, and the young hatch from these eggs outside her body.
Protecting the Philochortus zolii
The P. zolii is considered an endangered species. Its biggest threat is habitat loss. This means that the places where it lives are being destroyed or changed, making it harder for the lizards to survive.
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