A very poorly-known genus of lacertids distributed across North, West and East Africa region. I have been unable to find much information on them, and even the bibliography sources listed in the EMBL database are often fairly meagre or old. One source accords these the common name of "Orange-Tailed Lizards".
Rogner notes that this genus is supposedly closely related to Latastia, but with enlarged scales along the middle of the back.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Distribution | Size | Notes |
| Philochortus | ||||
| P. hardeggeri | Somalia, Djibouti, E Ethiopia | ?" | No data available. | |
| P. intermedius | Sudan, S Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, N Kenya | ?" | Kenyan distribution is confined to the Kaliokwell River region. Apart from the nominate subspecies there is one other, P. i. rudolfensis. | |
| P. lhotei | S Algeria, Niger | ?" | ||
| P. neumanni | SW Saudi Arabia, Yemen | ?" | ?. | |
| P. phillipsi | N Somalia and adj. Ethiopia | ?" | Formerly considered a Latastia species: see EMBL database entry. | |
| P. rudolfensis | Turkana Shield-Backed Ground Lizard | N Kenya | 7" | Very obscure lacertid known only from a few localities in the arid parts of N Kenya, in all just five specimens [SKDA]. Considered by some to be a subspecies of P. intermedius. See SKDA for the reasons for its elevation to full species status. Its distinctive characteristic (setting it apart from other E African lacertids [SKDA]) is a pair of longitudinal dorsal rows of enlarged scales. Tail is almost three times the snout-vent length. In coloration the head is greyish tan and the tail yellowish tan. The dorsal pattern consists of six narrow longitudinal white stripes enclosing five wider dark brown stripes. Ventral surfaces are white. Scalation details (as given in SKDA): Dorsal scales: small, smooth (posteriorly faintly keeled), 30-32 rows at midbody. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows, 28 transverse rows. Other: lamellae beneath toes bear two keels, 10-14 femoral pores beneath each thigh. Reproduction: juvenile patterning identical to adults': no other details available. |
| P. spinalis | W & E Africa (Niger to Ethiopia) | "? | ? | |
| P. zolii | S Libya | 11-12"? | Slender and long-tailed lacertid known from only two specimens found in SW Libya and SW Cyrenaica, hence there is some inexactitude over details of the species. It seems to inhabit oases. 6 light yellow longitudinal stripes run dorsally on the maroon back: the two central stripes bifurcate on the nape of the neck. The mid-dorsal scales are enlarged and the tail is red (tailbase itself being dorsally yellowish and ventrally whitish). Ventral coloration is white with bluish-green tinge apart from hindlegs which are yellow below. Limbs are light green-yellow. Scalation details (as given in KKS): supranasals contact one another. Internasals broader rather than long. Prefrontals widely separated by plate. Parietals somewhat shorter than frontal. Interparietal contacts occipital. 6 supraciliaries on each side, separated from supraoculars by granules. 4 supraoculars of which 1st and 4th fractioned, 2nd and 3rd about equal size. 3-4 supratemporals of which 1st is largest. Nostrils separated from 1st supralabial and postnasal by small margin. 5 supralabials in front of subocular. 2 loreals of which 2nd is much larger. 4 pairs of submaxillaries, of which anterior 3 are in contact. Collar: 6 scales. Throat: 25 gulars in median row. Dorsal scales: slightly keeled, 35-36 rows at midbody, 2 vertebral rows enlarged. Ventral scales: 6 longitudinal rows of which the 2 median rows are smaller, 31 transverse rows. Other: 14-15 femoral pores beneath each thigh. Reproduction: no details yet available. | |
For bibliography please refer to main Lacertidae page.
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