Arabe écrit ḥirḏawn = Arabe parlé (palestinien ?) hardun [ḥardūn] = Lacerta/Laudakia stellio : une équivalence trompeuse ?

Abstract The aim of this article is to examine whether it is legitimate to say, as is generally believed, that the reptile referred to in medieval Arabic texts as the ḥirḏawn is identical with the reptile known today by the zoonym of Palestinian origin Hardun, which in turn is identified with the Laudakia stellio. To this end, the article examines many medieval Arabic sources dealing with the ḥirḏawn and, at the same time, the circumstances in which the zoonym Hardun was born.