Lacertidae

Aloufi, Abdulhadi, Zayer, Mohammed Al & Amr, Zuhair S., 2023, Reptiles and Amphibians along the Coastal Area of the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia, Ecologica Montenegrina 68, pp. 66-87 : 75

Family Lacertidae

Acanthodactylus hardyi Haas, 1957 Fig. 6 A-D

Material examined: EZC021, Tufaieh, 3.6.2023. EZC027, Josameen, 9.6.2023. EZC 32-34, Josameen, 9.6.2023. EZC 055, Al Ahsa National Park, 4.9.2023.

Remarks: Haas (1957) described Acanthodactylus scutellatus hardyi from Hirmas station, north of Tabuk. Recent molecular studies showed that what was considered as Acanthodactylus scutellatus in the Middle East represents Acanthodactylus hardyi , while A. scutellatus is distributed across North Africa ( Tamar et al., 2016). This species is quite common in Kuwait ( Amr et al., 2021). Acanthodactylus hardyi was previously recorded W of Hofuf ( Salvador, 1982). All previous records of A. scutellatus in Saudi Arabia should be considered as A. hardyi .

Figures

Figure 6. A & B. Acanthodactylus hardyi (Photos by F. Hajual). C & D. Juvenile Acanthodactylus hardyi.