Darevskia kopetdaghica

Iran is home to beautiful reptiles and amphibians, but the country is not very well known for its research and conservation. A lot of work remains to be done in identifying the species endemic to Iran, as well as determining their conservation status. One critical component is research into the distribution and density of certain species.

Darevskia kopetdaghica, the Kopet Dag rock lizard, is a lizard whose status is virtually unknown. It is found only in North Khorasan in Iran and is named after the Kopet Dag mountain range that lies on Iran's border with Turmenistan. There is a high probability that this lizard has declined significantly in numbers in recent years due to a reduction in sightings. A conservation project will likely be necessary to safeguard the existing populations.