Iberolacerta cyreni
EN

Iberolacerta cyreni

Local name: Cyren’s Rock Lizard

UnknownENEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberolacerta_cyreni

Overview

Iberolacerta cyreni, commonly known as the Cyren's rock lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to central Spain and is currently listed as endangered by the IUCN due to global warming. I. cyreni has evolved to exhibit key behavioral characteristics, namely individual recognition, in which a lizard is able to identify another organism of the same species, as well as thermoregulation.

Cyren's Rock Lizard faces severe threats from climate change, which is causing upward shifts in suitable habitat and reducing available rocky refugia in high-altitude environments. The species' extremely restricted range in the Spanish mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss from tourism development and infrastructure projects in alpine areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

Lizards of the Iberolacerta genus reside in the mountainous areas of the Western Mediterranean region. In particular, I. cyreni are endemic to Spain's central mountain system in the Sierra del Guadarrama, Sierra de Gredos, Sierra de Bejar, and La Ser. These lizards are found near the tree line in more damp, rocky territories, but can also be found in temperate forests, temperate shrubland,...

Other threatened species in Lacertidae

Iberian Rock LizardVU

Iberian Rock Lizard

Iberolacerta monticola

Unknown
Skyros Wall LizardVU

Skyros Wall Lizard

Podarcis gaigeae

Unknown
Milos Wall LizardVU

Milos Wall Lizard

Podarcis milensis

Unknown
Acanthodactylus mechriguensisCR

Acanthodactylus mechriguensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Cyren’s Rock Lizard classified as Endangered?
Cyren’s Rock Lizard is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Cyren's Rock Lizard faces severe threats from climate change, which is causing upward shifts in suitable habitat and reducing available rocky refugia in high-altitude environments. The species' extremely restricted range in the Spanish mountains makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat loss from tourism development and infrastructure projects in alpine areas.
Where does Cyren’s Rock Lizard live?
Cyren’s Rock Lizard occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Cyren’s Rock Lizard?
The main threats to Cyren’s Rock Lizard are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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