Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Podarcis (?) guadarrama ("Spanish")

Adult Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) at Toledo, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies - Podarcis guadarramae guadarramae
Weight: 3.7g  /  Length: 15-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly common resident of Central Spain, it is found in a variety of habitats, including in Cities in fairly open places where they can bask, including rocks, stone plazas, walls and even manhole covers.  It is very variable in colouration and patterning across its range, which meant that identifying this species was a tricky, there are other species in the area with similar appearances.  This particular lizard was living on the rocky steps of a small plaza next to a church in Toledo - scurrying under the slabs whenever it felt threatened.  Formerly considered part of the Spanish Wall Lizard complex, more recent studies have split many of these species.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
SUBSPECIES: P. g. guadarramae, P. g. lusitanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Lagartija Ibérica ("Wall Lizard")

Common to locally abundant resident associated with Granite outcrops.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: A number seen in Madrid and Toledo
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen in at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Green Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis virescens)

OTHER NAMES: Geniez's Wall Lizard
Latin Etymology: Podarcis ("swift foot") virescens ("green")

Adult Green Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis virescens) at Laguna Campillo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 18cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Part of the complicated taxon of wall lizards found in Spain that was only recognised as a separate species in 2020, the Green Iberian Wall Lizard is a species that has adapted well to human habitation as they are able to use walls and other human structures as a substitute for their favoured rocky habitat. They are found primarily in the Southern Half of the Iberian penninsula with populations largely centred between Madrid and Lisbon.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Lagartija Verdosa ("Green Lizard")

Common to locally abundant resident..

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Several seen in at Laguna Campillo 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Italian Wall Lizard (Podarcis sicula)

OTHER NAMES: Ruin Lizard, Instanbul Lizard
Latin Etymology: Podarcis ("swift foot") sicula ("dagger")

Adult Male Italian Wall Lizard (subspecies. P. s. sicula) at Catania, Sicily, Italy - May 2018

Featured Subspecies: Podarcis sicula sicula
Weight: ?  /  Length: 15-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very common species in Italy - found in both urban and rural environments, often in fairly densely populated colonies.  They are also very variable in colour, being found in various combinations of patterns and plain colour gradients making it possible to find drastically different individuals next to each other.  It is also noted for being very adaptable, and quickly evolving to new environments it they find themselves in, with physically distinct populations having been noted as developing in as little as 20 years.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
SUBSPECIES:  P. s. adriaticus, P. s. aemiliani, P. s. amparoae, P. s. astorgae, P. s. bagnolensis, P. s. bolei, P. s. calabresiae, P. s. campestris, P. s. caporiaccoi, P. s. cattaroi, P. s. cettii, P. s. ciclopica, P. s. coeruleus, P. s. cucchiarai, P. s. dupinici, P. s. fiumanoideus, P. s. flavigulus, P. s. gallensis, P. s. hadzii, P. s. hieroglyphicus, P. s. insularus, P. s. klemmeri, P. s. kolombatovici, P. s. laganjensis, P. s. lanzai, P. s. latastei, P. s. massinei, P. s. monaconensis, P. s. nikolici, P. s. palmarolae, P. s. pasquinii, P. s. paulae, P. s. pelagosae, P. s. pirosoensis, P. s. pohlibensis, P. s. premudanus, P. s. premudensis, P. s. pretneri, P. s. radovanovici, P. s. ragusae, P. s. salfii, P. s. samogradi, P. s. sanctinicolai, P. s. sanctistephani, P. s. sicula, P. s. tyrrhenicus, P. s. vesseljuchi.

- Sighting Locations -

ITALY - Italian - Lucertola campestre ("Rural Lizard")

An abundant resident

 - SICILY 2018 TRIP -  Very common throughout.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus,  IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .