Cyren’s Rock Lizard

About the Cyren’s Rock Lizard

Iberolacerta cyreni, commonly known as the Cyren's rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to central Spain and is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN due to global warming. I. cyreni has evolved to exhibit key behavioral characteristics, namely individual recognition, in which a lizard is able to identify another organism of the same species, as well as thermoregulation.

The genus name, "Iberolacerta," signifies how these lizards are native to Spain, which is located on the Iberian peninsula. The specific name, "cyreni," is in honor of Swedish herpetologist Carl August Otto Cyrén. Iberolacerta cyreni, or the rock lizard, can measure up to 8 cm (3.1 in) snout-to-vent and 24 cm (9.4 in) including the tail. I. cyreni are most likely species where males compete over females; in such cases, bigger lizards demonstrate greater reproductive success, thus resulting in overall larger body sizes and larger combat-related structures, such as the size of the head. In contrast, females are responsible for bearing offspring, and as a result, selection pressures that act on clutch volume or clutch size may favor... Wikipedia →