Modelling the potential distribution ofMesalina watsonana(Stoliczka, 1872) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) on the Iranian Plateau

A model of the potential distribution of Mesalina watsonana, the Persian Long-tailed Desert Lizard, reveals that most of the Iranian Plateau is suitable for the species, except for extreme arid regions like the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in Iran. Key limiting factors include precipitation constraints—exceeding 250–300 mm in the wettest quarter but less than 40 mm in the coldest—and altitude/slope thresholds (above 2500 m or steeper than 10.5°). The study, based on over 600 distributional records and bioclimatic data, highlights how climatic barriers shape the lizard's range, aligning with broader biogeographic patterns.

Hosseinian Yousefkhani, S. S., Rastegar-Pouyani, E., Rastegar-Pouyani, N., Masroor, R., & Šmíd, J. (2013). Modelling the potential distribution ofMesalina watsonana(Stoliczka, 1872) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) on the Iranian Plateau. Zoology in the Middle East, 59(3), 220–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2013.841429