The Algerian three-toed skink (Chalcides mertensi) is a species of "grass-swimming" skink with an elongated serpentine shape and reduced limbs.

[1] The Algerian three-toed skink lives in forested areas in northern Algeria, and in semi-arid maquis-type habitats in Algeria and Tunisia.

[1] The Algerian three-toed skink was formerly considered to be as a subspecies of the Italian three-toed skink Chalcides chalcides, but it was raised to species status by Caputo (1993).

[1] It has further been proposed that as molecular studies identified different lineages of the Algerian three-toed skink from samples in the northern and southern parts of its range in Tunisia and suggest there are at least two species present but recommended further research.

[4] The Algerian three-toed skink is listed as least concern but is threatened by habitat loss caused by overgrazing and the conversion of land to agricultural and urbanisation.