Podarcis tauricus

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Podarcis tauricus
Benny Trapp Podarcis tauricus.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
Species:
P. tauricus
Binomial name
Podarcis tauricus
(Pallas, 1814)
Synonyms [2]
  • Lacerta taurica Pallas 1814: 30
  • Podarcis taurica Engelmann et al. 1993
  • Podarcis tauricus Böhme & Köhler 2005

Podarcis tauricus, the Balkan wall lizard, is a common lizard in the family Lacertidae native to south eastern Europe and Asia Minor. [2] It is a terrestrial species found in steppe, grassland, olive groves, cultivated land, meadows, rural gardens, sparsely vegetated sand dunes and scrubby areas.

Contents

Description

The Balkan wall lizard grows to a snout-to-vent length of about 8 cm (3.1 in) with a tail twice as long as this. It is a sturdy deep-headed lizard somewhat resembling a small green lizard. The basic colour is bright green in spring, fading to an olive-green olive-brown in summer. The markings are somewhat variable but may consist of two narrow, pale-coloured dorso-lateral stripes with the central part of the back brownish with black patches. The underparts are white and unblotched, but breeding males develop yellow, orange or red underparts and green throats. [3]

Distribution

South-west Ukraine, Crimea Peninsula, eastern and southern Romania, south-east Hungary, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, mainland Greece, the Ionian Islands, Thassos, western Turkey (Thrace and north western Anatolia), Albania and southern Moldova. [2]

Habitat and ecology

Podarcis tauricus is largely a terrestrial lizard inhabiting open areas of grassland such as steppe, meadows and field edges, also in olive groves, traditional farm land, rural gardens, sand dunes with sparse vegetation and occasionally in open scrub. [1]

Females lay two clutches, of between two and ten eggs each, in a year.

Taxonomy

Two subspecies are recognised [2]

Conservation status

The Balkan wall lizard is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being of "least concern". This is because it is a common species wherever there is suitable habitat within its range. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Lacerta</i> (genus) Genus of lizards

Lacerta is a genus of lizards of the family Lacertidae.

<i>Podarcis</i> Genus of lizards

Podarcis is a genus of lizards in the family Lacertidae. Its members look very similar to lizards of the genus Lacerta, to which they were considered to belong until the 1970s. While similar externally and ecologically, Podarcis form a distinct group differing from Lacerta by the construction of the skull and the hemipenis, and by the processes of the caudal vertebrae. They are commonly known as wall lizards. They are native to Europe and northern Africa, and most species are restricted to the Mediterranean region. Wall lizards diversified and hybridized during the Messinian salinity crisis. The Italian wall lizard and the common wall lizard have been introduced to North America, where they have become intermediate hosts for some Acuariidae larvae.

Erhards wall lizard Species of lizard

Erhard's wall lizard, also called the Aegean wall lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Southeast Europe.

Milos wall lizard Species of lizard

The Milos wall lizard(Podarcis milensis) is a small Mediterranean lizard.

Iberian rock lizard Species of lizard

The Iberian rock lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Portugal and Spain. Its natural habitats are mountain forests, shrubland, rivers and rocky areas. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Bocages wall lizard Species of lizard

Bocage's wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, sandy shores, rural gardens, and urban areas. The IUCN does not consider it to be threatened.

<i>Podarcis carbonelli</i> Species of lizard

Podarcis carbonelli, commonly known as Carbonell's wall lizard, is a species of lizards in the family Lacertidae. It is endemic to Portugal and Spain.

Filfola lizard Species of lizard

The filfola lizard or Maltese wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Italy and in the island group of Malta. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens.

Skyros wall lizard Species of lizard

The Skyros wall lizard is a species of lizards in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the islands of Skyros and Piperi, Greece.

Dalmatian wall lizard Species of lizard

The Dalmatian wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Italy, Serbia, Montenegro, and Slovenia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, and pastureland.

Peloponnese wall lizard Species of lizard

The Peloponnese wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is endemic to the Peloponnese region of southern Greece. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, arable land, pastureland, plantations, and rural gardens.

Tyrrhenian wall lizard Species of lizard

The Tyrrhenian wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the islands Sardinia and Corsica.

<i>Podarcis vaucheri</i> Species of lizard

Podarcis vaucheri, the Andalusian wall lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to northern Africa and southern Spain.

Sicilian wall lizard Species of lizard

The Sicilian wall lizard is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. Endemic to Italy, it occurs in Sicily and the Aegadian Islands. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, temperate shrubland, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, temperate grassland, arable land, pastureland, and rural gardens. The IUCN does not consider it to be a threatened species. Three subspecies are recognized: P. w. antoninoi, P. w. marettimensis, and P. w. waglerianus.

Balkan whip snake Species of snake

The Balkan whip snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in Italy, Greece and most of the Balkan countries where its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, pastureland, plantations and rural gardens. It is threatened by habitat loss in parts of its range but overall is assessed by the IUCN as being of "least concern".

<i>Podarcis cretensis</i> Species of lizard

Podarcis cretensis, the Cretan wall lizard, is a species of lacertid lizard endemic to Crete.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wolfgang Böhme, Petros Lymberakis, Rastko Ajtic, Varol Tok, Ismail H. Ugurtas, Murat Sevinç, Pierre-André Crochet, Idriz Haxhiu, László Krecsák, Bogoljub Sterijovski, Lymberakis, Jelka Crnobrnja Isailovic, Podloucky, Dan Cogalniceanu, Aziz Avci (2009). "Podarcis tauricus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2009: e.T61554A12515695. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009.RLTS.T61554A12515695.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. 1 2 3 4 P. Uetz (ed.). "Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Arnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. Collins & Co. p. 175. ISBN   9780002199643.
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