Philochortus

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Philochortus is a genus of lizards in the Lacertidae family. They live in parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, including Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia. The name means “grass-loving,” because they favor open, grassy or sandy habitats. They are often called grass-loving lizards or shield-backed ground lizards because of their back scales and ground-dwelling lifestyle.

These lizards are medium to large for lacertids, with long, cylindrical tails. The tail can be longer than three times the length of the head and body when not regrown. They have movable eyelids, nostrils bordered by scales, and a well-marked collar. Their undersides are covered with smooth scales arranged in six long rows. Their backs show 2 to 6 long rows of large plate-like scales along the midline, which helps distinguish them from some related lizards. Males have more prominent femoral pores on the inside of the thighs, and the base of the tail is broader in males than in females.

Little is known about their full natural history. They occupy dry, open, sandy, or rocky areas from sea level up to about 1,500 meters in elevation, including mountains. Most prefer sparsely vegetated and bare ground, but some species can be found in grassy or bushy areas, and a few venture into cultivated land with grasses.

Philochortus lizards are active during the day and hunt insects and other small arthropods. They lay eggs and live on the ground, though one species (P. zolii) is a good climber. Their long tail helps balance on vegetation, and they dig burrows under clumps of grass or small bushes.

There are seven recognized species in this genus.