''Mesalina bahaeldini'' 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 in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Lacertidae. The species 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 else ...
to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
.
Etymology
The
specific name, ''bahaeldini'', is in honor of
Egyptian
Egyptian describes something of, from, or related to Egypt.
Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to:
Nations and ethnic groups
* Egyptians, a national group in North Africa
** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of years of ...
zoologist
Zoology ()The pronunciation of zoology as is usually regarded as nonstandard, though it is not uncommon. is the branch of biology that studies the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and d ...
Sherif M. Baha El Din, who is the husband of the late
American-born
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 rep ...
Mindy Baha El Din.
[ Beolen, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . (''Mesalina bahaeldini'', p. 14).]
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 ...
of ''M. bahaeldini'' is rocky areas.
Reproduction
''M. bahaeldini'' is
oviparous.
[
]
Conservation status
''M. bahaeldini'' 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 ...
.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
.[. www.reptile-database.org.]
*'' Mesalina bahaeldini bahaeldini''
*'' Mesalina bahaeldini curatorum''
References
Further reading
* Segoli M, Cohen T, Werner YL (2002). "A new lizard of the genus ''Mesalina'' from Mt. Sinai, Egypt (Reptilia: Squamata: Sauria: Lacertidae)". ''Faunistiche Abhandlungen Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden'' 23 (9): 157–176. (''Mesalina bahaeldini'', new species, pp. 169–172).
* Sindaco R, Jeremčenko VK (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. .
*Werner YL, Ashkenazi S (2010). "Notes on some Egyptian Lacertidae, including a new subspecies of ''Mesalina'', involving the Seligmann effect". ''Turkish Journal of Zoology'' 34: 123–133. (''Mesalina bahaeldini curatorum'', new subspecies).
Mesalina
Endemic fauna of Egypt
Vertebrates of Egypt
Lizards of Africa
Reptiles described in 2002
Taxa named by Michal Segoli
Taxa named by Tzahala Cohen
Taxa named by Yehudah L. Werner
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{lacertidae-stub