Aran rock lizard

Aran rock lizard
File:Benny Trapp Iberolacerta aranica.jpg
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Iberolacerta
Species:	I. aranica
Binomial name
Iberolacerta aranica (Arribas, 1993)
Synonyms
Lacerta aranica Arribas, 1993 Lacerta bonnali aranica Arribas, 1993

The Aran rock lizard (Iberolacerta aranica) is a species of lizard in the Lacertidae family. It is found in a small area of the central Pyrenees on the Spanish-French border. It lives only in Mauberme massif, including its foothills between the Val d'Aran in Spain and the Ariège in France. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland, rocky areas, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Aran rock lizard is a medium sized lizard. Males can reach a length of up to 62 mm, females up to 67 mm. The back has a grayish color, which can sometimes be tinted brown or olive. The back of some males is a glossy metallic green. In the middle of the back sometimes a fine dark line can be visible. A line of dark spots usually runs along both sides of the back and sometimes extends to the tail. In the front half of the body two irregularly rimmed, light longitudinal bands are developed on the border between the back and the flanks. A wide, dark brown to black band runs along the flanks from the temples to the front side tail. The underside is white, but can be faintly bluish or greenish depending on the light.