Acanthodactylus beershebensis Moravec, EL Din, Seligmann, Sivan & Werner, 1999

Open encyclopedia reference

The Be'er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus beershebensis) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is a member of the subfamily Lacertinae, and the genus Acanthodactylus (spiny footed lizards). Considered a separate species based on morphological distinction and isolated location, it shares a large portion of its genetics with Acanthodactylus pardalis in this genus. Many of the individual species in this genus are similar, but varying coloration explains why each species has been separated. Like all Acanthodactylus, A. beershebensis lays eggs, varying from three to seven eggs at a time. Adults vary in size from 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in), but can get much larger. The species is endemic to the loess scrublands of the Negev desert in Israel, a biodiversity hotspot.

A. beershebensis was declared critically endangered after an assessment in 2006 of serious population decline. Some estimates claim numbers have dropped 80% over the last three generations. The small populations are severely fragmented across the Negev desert. This decline has been caused by habitat destruction and degradation.

Wikipedia contributors, Be'er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T14:14:57.337857+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.

Identity & source status

Scientific name

Acanthodactylus beershebensis Moravec, EL Din, Seligmann, Sivan & Werner, 1999

Name authority

Moravec, EL Din, Seligmann, Sivan & Werner, 1999

Rank

species

Accepted status

accepted

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Squamata

Family

Lacertidae

Genus

Acanthodactylus

Extinction status

Not supplied by this source

Classification family tree

Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.

1. domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
2. kingdomAnimalia
3. phylumChordata
4. subphylumVertebrata
5. infraphylumGnathostomata
6. parvphylumOsteichthyes
7. megaclassTetrapoda
8. classReptilia Laurenti, 1768
9. orderSquamata Oppel, 1811
10. suborderAutarchoglossa
11. familyLacertidae
12. genusAcanthodactylus
13. speciesAcanthodactylus beershebensis Moravec, EL Din, Seligmann, Sivan & Werner, 1999

Close classified relatives

These entries share the source’s genus, Acanthodactylus. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.

Browse 292 records assigned to Lacertidae.

Documented distribution

Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.

Source literature & publication evidence

References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.

1. https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Acanthodactylus&species=beershebensis Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references

Origins, evidence & remaining research

Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.

Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record.

Dataset citation & attribution

This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11

Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.

Stable key: col:8VRW. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.