Eremias persica

It was described by William Thomas Blanford in 1875.[1][3] The type locality is near Isfahan, Iran.[4] The specific epithet persica refers to its distribution in Persia (now known as Iran).[1]

Eremias nigrolateralis Rastegar-Pouyani & Nilson, 1998, the black-sided racerunner,[5] was described based on dorsal color patterning differences but is now considered a synonym of E. persica.[1][2] E. nigrolateralis was considered a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List based on its extensive, suitable habitat, large population, and presumed lack of significant threats.[5] It was considered "unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category".[5] E. persica has not been separately assessed on the IUCN Red List.[6]

It is most closely related to Eremias velox, of which it was previously treated as a subspecies, and they share several attributes such as having a wide range distribution across the Iranian Plateau, as well as the number of and shape of their scales.[7][1] It can be morphologically distinguished from E. velox based on several characteristics, including:

• continuous dorsolateral black stripes (vs. E. velox with interrupted, forming ocelli with white spots),
• the stripes strongly contrasting with the base pattern (vs. not strongly contrasting),
• juveniles with 4 dark stripes on the back between dorsolateral white-spotted stripes (vs. 3 dark stripes), and
• juveniles with ventral surface of tail not red (vs. carmine red in E. velox).[7]

Like many other lacertid lizards, the juveniles are more easily distinguished from other species than the adults.[2] Other closely related species of Eremias racerunners include  E. kopetdaghica, E. isfahanica, E. lalezharica, E. montana, E. papenfussi, E. strauchi, and E. suphani.[7]

The Persian racerunner occurs in Iran, southern Azerbaijan, southern Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and western Pakistan.[4] In Iran, Eremias persica has a broad distribution in the central plateau south of the Alborz Mountains, including the Zagros Mountains, but it is absent from the central deserts Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir.[4] It is found in open plains and slopes, typically in areas of low vegetation and gravel surfaces. It is also found on mixed sand or silt and gravel.[4]