Algerian coast, high plateaus of Algeria and Morocco and southern parts of the eastern High Atlas.Introduced to the island of Menorca, the Habibas Islands and the island of Paloma in Algeria.
Duméril, A.M.C. & Bibron, G. (1839) - Description Teira (Scalarcis) p. perspicillata. - In: Erpétologie Générale on Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles. Vol.5. Roret/Fain et Thunot, Paris, p. 249.
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Perera, A. & Vasconcelos, R. & Harris, D.J. & Brown, R.P. & Carretero, M.A. & Pérez-Mellado, V. (2007) - Complex patterns of morphological and mtDNA variation in Lacerta perspicillata (Reptilia; Lacertidae). - Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 90 (3): 479–490.
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Lacerta perspicillata
is a north-west African lacertid lizard that shows considerable intraspecific variation, with
three subspecies described on the basis of colour pattern and body size. Recent observations of a population containing
two morphological forms and more than one deep genetic lineage, as well as an apparent lack of concordance
between forms and genetic lineages, suggest that the complexity is greater than previously thought. To analyse
and quantify this variation, we studied the variability within this species at two levels: (1) external morphology
(multivariate analysis of scalation, body dimensions, and colour pattern) and (2) mtDNA (sequencing and singlestrand
confirmation polymorphism analysis). Fifty-two individuals were studied at Taza, northern Morocco. Two
morphological groupings (ostensibly representing two previously described subspecies) and two deep mtDNA lineages
were detected at this site, with complete correspondence between the two. This, together with an apparent lack
of hybrids, would normally support respective full species recognition. However, analysis of 98 individuals from other
populations demonstrated that the situation is highly complex with the same genetic lineages having reversed morphotypes
in other areas, making such a designation difficult. Across the other studied populations, we found no support
for any of the currently recognized subspecies. The lack of congruence between mtDNA lineages and
morphometric patterns (in some cases) and the morphological similarity among lizards from different lineages suggest
ecophenotypic convergence or multiple introgressive hybridization. The study highlights the tremendous complexity
that may exist within a taxon and the inadequacy of older alpha-taxonomy based designations in describing
it.