Anatolian Rock Lizard

This lizard grows to a snout-to-vent length of about 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) with a tail twice as long as its body. The head and body are somewhat flattened, and the markings are rather variable. The basal colour is dark olive-brown, and there are usually two series of pale dorso-lateral spots which may merge into each other, forming lines. The areas between these stripes have further pale speckling. The throat may be reddish, but the rest of the underparts are pale, sometimes with a few dark spots on the flanks. Lizards on Icaria have particularly bold, contrasting markings.

The Anatolian rock lizard is endemic to the western Anatolian peninsula (Turkey) north of the Büyük Menderes River and to some Greek islands close to the coast. It is present on Samos, Icaria and Thymaina. It occurs at altitudes of up to 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) and its typical habitat is rocky outcrops, cliffs, boulders and dry stone walls. It is often present in rocky areas in woodland and near streams in otherwise arid locations.