Erhard's wall lizard
| Erhard's wall lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Erhard's wall lizard, male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Sauria |
| Infraorder: | Scincomorpha |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Podarcis |
| Species: | P. erhardii |
| Binomial name | |
| Podarcis erhardii (Bedriaga, 1882) | |
Erhard's wall lizard (Podarcis erhardii) is a species of lacertid lizard endemic to Southeast Europe.
Etymology
The specific name, erhardii, is in honor of a certain Dr. Erhard (first name unknown), a German naturalist, who was the author of Fauna der Cycladen (1858).[1]
Geographic range
P. erhardii is found in the Balkan peninsula and the Aegean islands. On the mainland it ranges from Albania, the Republic of Macedonia and southern Bulgaria to the northeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. In the Aegean archipelago it does not occur in Milos or the surrounding islands, where it is replaced by the Milos wall lizard.
Description
The length of the lizard's body is about 7 cm (2.8 in), and the tail is twice as long. The head is rather wide, and the skin is smooth. The colour and patterning of this species vary a lot. The main colour is typically grey or brown, sometimes green. Females particularly are often striped. On the edges of the back two white stripes border two dark stripes or spotty lines. In the middle of the back may be a dark line. Some males have net-like patterning, where longitudinal and transverse lines and spots mix. The belly and often throat are white, yellow, orange or red, and in the Aegean Islands also green, blue or grey. The belly is never spotty, but sometimes there are blue spots on the hind legs.
Habitat
Erhard's wall lizard lives in dry or rocky places with dense, low bushes. It climbs very well. The lizard populations in the Aegean archipelago inhabit open places, like plant-covered dunes, as well.
Diet
Erhard's wall lizard eats arthropods, especially insects.
Reproduction
P. erhardii mates in spring, and lays eggs at the beginning of the summer. The young lizards hatch in September, then measuring 3 cm (1.2 in).
References
- ↑ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Podarcis erhardii, p. 85).
Further reading
- Arnold EN, Burton JA. (1978). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London: Collins 272 pp. + Plates 1-40. ISBN 0-00-219318-3. (Podarcis erhardii, p. 171 + Plate 31 + Map 90).
- Čihař, Jiří. (1994). Amphibians and Reptiles: A Magna Field Guide. Wigston, England: Magna Books. 192 pp. ISBN 1-85422-788-2
- Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe
- Lymberakis et al. (2005). Podarcis erhardii. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern