Diurnal and ground dwelling. Recorded from the summit of Gebel Katrina, where it is the only active reptile during cold weather.
Least Concern
A rather small slender lizard, with a maximum SVL of 52 mm. Snout fairly long, usually with 4 supralabials anterior to the subocular. Lower eyelid with a window made of two large transparent scales of roughly equal size, each clearly edged with black pigment. Temporals small, smooth; tympanic shield obvious. Dorsal scales medium-sized, granular or subimbricate. Average number of dorsals at mid-body 44 (range 39-49) and ventrals 10, respectively; average number of femoral pores 13 ( 10-14) .Ventral side of lower arm covered with small granules. Dorsal side of tibia covered with slightly keeled scales. Dorsal surfaces usually gray-brown, with alternating dark and light longitudinal stripes; the dark stripes contain white spots, while the light stripes are often interrupted with dark spots. Tail irregularly banded, bluish in young animals. Venter white. Hemipenis very small.
Found in the high mountains of South Sinai, particularly common around St. Katherine Monastery.
Apparently endemic to South Sinai.
Found mostly above 1,000 m, where it occurs in the Irano-Turanian phytogeo-graphical zone in South Sinai.Habitat preferences similar to that of M.guttulata, living in rocky habitats on mountains and hillsides, wadi terraces with scattered stones and boulders.
Locally common and widespread.
Mesalina bahaeldini is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Egypt.[1]
The specific name, bahaeldini, is in honor of Egyptian zoologist Sherif M. Baha El Din, who is the husband of the late American-born herpetologist Mindy Baha El Din.[2]
The natural habitat of M. bahaeldini is rocky areas.[1]
M. bahaeldini is oviparous.[3]
M. bahaeldini is threatened by habitat loss.[1]
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]
Mesalina bahaeldini is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Egypt.
