Which lizard or skink is this?

[Jacqueline Burrell]

The image was taken on the Gulf of Suez at the end of October.

Thanks

Jacqueline

[H Dogg]

Hi unfortunately my knowledge of lizard species extends as far as Europe. However we get similar ones to this, its one of the Acanthodactylus species also known as Spiny-footed lizards. There are about 32 species in Northern Africa. With only the one in Europe Acanthodactylus erythrurus which is also found in North West Africa but I doint think its in Egypt.

[Jacqueline Burrell]

Originally Posted by H Dogg

Hi unfortunately my knowledge of lizard species extends as far as Europe. However we get similar ones to this, its one of the Acanthodactylus species also known as Spiny-footed lizards. There are about 32 species in Northern Africa. With only the one in Europe Acanthodactylus erythrurus which is also found in North West Africa but I doint think its in Egypt.

Having searched through the full list of Acanthodactylus (I found 39) I narrowed it down to four species found in Egypt:A. boskianus, A. longipes, A. pardalis and A. scrutellatus. The I discovered an article about a new species in Egyptian, surprisingly enough called A. aegyptius! It was discovered by an Egyptian naturalist who has authored and illustrated a book on birds but unbeknown to me has recently published "Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians" which I will buy ASAP.

Many thanks for putting me on the right track.