Iberolacerta cyreni
Local name: Cyren’s Rock Lizard
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.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberolacerta_cyreni
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Squamata
Family
Lacertidae
Genus
Iberolacerta
Iberolacerta cyreni belongs to the family Lacertidae, order unknown, within the Squamata class.
Species Profile
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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,...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
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.
Climate change and habitat shifts
Extremely small range size
Tourism and recreational activities
Habitat fragmentation
Infrastructure development
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | ENEndangered | ENEndangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Iberolacerta cyreni (Iberolacerta cyreni). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/cyrens-rock-lizard