History and origin
The Large Psammodromus was first described by Linnaeus in 1758, the scientific name of this species is Psammodromus algirus. Psammodromus from Greek composed of two words, the first meaning 'sand' and the second meaning 'race', this lizard family was described for its habits to run on a sandy habitat. Algirus comes from latin and means 'Algerian', from Algeria.

Characteristics
They are characterised by their two light thin lines that run down the top of the flank.

Description
=Size=
They hatch at around 3 cm long, averaging about 7 cm long growing up to sometimes 8 cm long (measures not including tail, max. adult size tail included is up to 24 cm long).
=Morphology=
They are a long, slim lizard which has incredible agility and speed. Their tails are very long and slim sometimes up to twice the length of the body, it's limbs are also long and thin allowing short burst of high speed. It's head is slightly pointed and it has near the front legs a small patch of many small scales. Their body scales are somewhat 'jagged' keeled, pointed and almost upturned on each scale end.
=Patterns & colours=
The juveniles have the same patterns and colouring as the adults. They are usually dark brown on the back and slightly lighter brown but not by much on the flanks, these two slightly different tones of brown are separated by the characteristic thin line, it's colour is mostly yellow with sometimes the part near the hind limbs being more orange. Their tail is brown and on the tails sides the orange colour of the line is sometimes present. They sometimes as adults have a small patch of blue near their front legs, the patch where they have the small scales. Their bellies are white, sometimes under the throat there may be a patch of yellow.

Geographical range
Found in the Iberian peninsula except for Spain's northern coast, also found in western Mediterranean France.

Subspecies
None described.

Sexual differences
None.

Seasonal variations
Females are larger in spring due to their eggs.

Diet
They feed mainly on large insects.

Defensive habits
They try at first to flee, but if caught they sometimes squeak and the adults always open their mouths and show off the inside of their mouths, they won't bite unless there is something near their mouth, they'll even latch onto a stick or grass blade if it senses something near it's mouth. Otherwise it doesn't bite.

Reproduction
Breeding occurs when they wake up from hibernation in spring, a week after, they are all looking for each other and mating begins. After only a few weeks about 7 eggs are laid (extremes are from 2 to 10 eggs) in a moist, warm spot, usually under hey piles, in rotting wood piles and other places of this kind. The eggs incubate for around 6 weeks before hatching.

Sexual maturity, life span
The average life span for Psammodromus algirus is about 7 years, they reach their sexual maturity when they are two years old.

Habits
They are active by day. They can be approached easily by morning but are very hard to approach when they heat up. They are very fast and agile, but they don't climb very well or swim either.

Habitat
They are found in quite dry habitats, mostly with a lot of grass. They are also easily observed at the edge of vine yards where there is bushes such as black burry bushes. They seem more common where water may be near by.

Predators
Their main threat comes from snake as they share habitat mostly with the Montpellier snake. Otherwise they are sometimes eaten by birds of prey and frequently killed on the road.