Bosc’s Fringe-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus)

Bosc's fringe-toed lizard (Acanthodactylus boskianus) is a species of lacertid lizard (Family Lacertidae) endemic to North Africa and Western Asia. It is a fast lizard that lives in deserts.

Both the specific name, boskianus, and the common name, Bosc's fringe-toed lizard, are in honor of French naturalist Louis Augustin Guillaume Bosc.

I met this beautiful lizard in the Negev Desert very briefly.

References:

• Species profile on GBIF
• Bosc's_fringe-toed_lizard (Wikipedia)
• Record on iNaturalist

Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)

The Red-veined dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa), is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.

Trithemis arteriosa is widespread and common in most of its range which includes most of Africa and extends to western Asia and southern Europe.

This dragonfly is found in and near a wide variety of slow-flowing and still-water habitats.

This was the most common dragonfly I encountered in Israel.

Juvenile Male

References:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trithemis_arteriosa
• Records on iNaturalist here