Mesalina simoni, known commonly as Simon's desert racer, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Morocco.

Mesalina simoni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Mesalina
Species:
M. simoni
Binomial name
Mesalina simoni
(Boettger, 1881)
Synonyms[2]
  • Podarces (Mesalina) simoni
    Boettger, 1881
  • Eremias olivieri simoni
    Bons, 1959
  • Mesalina simoni
    Arnold, 1986

Etymology

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The specific name, simoni, is in honor of Hans Simon who was a German collector of natural history specimens.[3]

Geographic range

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In Morocco M. simoni is found on the central coast of the Atlantic Ocean.[1][2]

Habitat

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The natural habitat of M. simoni is rocky areas.[1]

Reproduction

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M. simoni is oviparous.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Joger U [in German], Slimani T, El Mouden H, Geniez P (2006). "Mesalina simonii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2006: e.T61535A12509619. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T61535A12509619.en.
  2. ^ a b c Mesalina simoni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 May 2013.
  3. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Mesalina simoni, p. 244).

Further reading

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  • Boettger O (1881). "Diagnoses Reptilium Novorum Maroccanorum ". Zoologischer Anzeiger 4: 570–572. ("Podarces (Mesalina) Simoni ", new species, pp. 571–572). (in Latin).
  • Schleich, H. Hermann; Kästle, Werner; Kabisch, Klaus (1996). Amphibians and Reptiles of North Africa: Biology, Systematics, Field Guide. Koenigstein, Germany: Koeltz Scientific Books. 627 pp. ISBN 978-3874293778. (Mesalina simoni, p. 428).
  • Sindaco, Roberto; Jeremčenko, Valery K. (2008). The Reptiles of the Western Palearctic: 1. Annotated Checklist and Distributional Atlas of the Turtles, Crocodiles, Amphisbaenians and Lizards of Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Latina, Italy: Edizioni Belvedere. 580 pp. ISBN 978-88-89504-14-7.