Beer Sheva fringe-fingered lizard

The Be'er Sheva fringe-fingered lizard (Acanthodactylus beershebensis) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is endemic to the loess scrublands of the Negev desert in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, a biodiversity hotspot. The species was declared critically endangered after an assessment in 2006 due to a serious population decline. Some estimates claim numbers have declined 80% over the last three generations. The small populations are severely fragmented across the northern NegeV desert. The Be'ershebense species is the most common species in this habitat. It lays eggs, varying from three to seven eggs at a time. Adults vary in size from 17 to 20 cm (6.7 to 7.9 in), but can get much larger. It lives in a structurally simple environment with few perches in which the species can hide from its predators. It does not rely much on the perches or covers provided by trees for survival but is known to show the strongest reaction to plantations. Because the species faces a lot of threat from predators, it has found ways to adapt its diet to its predatory situation.