''Iberolacerta martinezricai'', Martinez-Rica's rock lizard, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia alt ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Lacertidae
The Lacertidae are the family (biology), family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at least 300 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group o ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''martinezricai'', is in honor of Spanish
herpetologist
Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...
Juan Pablo Martinez-Rica.
[Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Iberolacerta martinezricai'', p. 170).]
Geographic range
''I. martinezricai'' is
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
.
Habitat
The natural
habitat
In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...
s of ''I. martinezricai'' are temperate
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
s and rocky areas.
Conservation status
''I. martinezricai'' is threatened by
habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
.
References
Further reading
*Arribas OJ (1996). “Taxonomic revision of the Iberian ‘Archaeolacertae’ I.: A new interpretation of the geographical variation of ''‘Lacerta’ monticola'' Boulenger, 1905 and ''‘Lacerta’ cyreni'' Müller & Hellmich, 1937”. ''Herpetozoa'' 9 (1/2): 31–56. (''Lacerta cyreni martinezricai'', new subspecies, pp. 54–55).
*Arribas, Oscar; Carranza, Salvador (2004). “Morphological and genetic evidence of the full species status of ''Iberolacerta cyreni martinezricai'' (Arribas,1996)”. ''Zootaxa'' 634: 1-24.
martinezricai
Endemic reptiles of the Iberian Peninsula
Reptiles described in 1996
Endemic fauna of Spain
Taxa named by Oscar J. Arribas
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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