Reptiles Guide

Lacertidae
Podarcis hispanica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Reptilia   Order: Squamata   Suborder: Sauria   Family: Lacertidae
Genera
Many, see text. Terminology and scalation of lacertids

Lacertidae is the family of the wall lizards, which are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia, and (in Lacerta) include some of the most common types seen in Europe.

Habitat

All species are terrestrial. European and Mediterranean species live mainly in forest and scrub habitats. Eastward Eremias and Ophisops replace them in the grassland and desert habitats of Asia. African species usually live in rocky, arid areas. Holaspis is one of the few arboreal lacertids, and its single species (Holaspis guentheri) is a glider, although apparently a poor one using its broad tail and flattened body as an aerofoil (Zug et al. 2001).

Size

Small or medium-sized; usually less than 9 cm snout-vent length, but a few species exceed 15 cm SVL (Lacerta lepida).

Food

Primarily insectivorous. Meroles anchietae (formerly Aporosaura anchietae) is one of the few Wall lizards that regularly eats seeds, not an unlikely food for a lizard of the harsh Namib Desert.

Reproduction

At least 8 species of Lacerta are parthenogenetic and all are oviparous except for some populations of Lacerta vivipara.

Identification

The Common Wall Lizard is a small, thin lizard whose small scales are highly variable in color and pattern. Their coloration is generally brownish or grayish, and may occasionally be tinged with green. In some individuals the row of spots along their back may form a line, while others may have a reticulated pattern with dark spots on the side and scattered white spots that can be blue in the shoulder region. The tail is brown, grey or rust in color, and may also have light bars on the sides. The belly region has 6 rows of larger rectangular scales that are generally reddish, pink, or orangish. Common Wall Lizards may also have dark markings on the throat.

Distribution and Status

The Common Wall Lizard is an introduced species whose natural range spans mainland Europe in central Spain, southern Belgium, and the Netherlands. In the US this lizard has established populations along the Ohio River and within Cincinnati, Ohio, particularly in the vicinity of the Cincinnati Zoo (US distribution map). Within the Midwest/Upper South, the Common Wall Lizard is only found in Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

Ecology

The Common Wall Lizard prefers urban settings where it can scurry between rock, rubble, debris and buildings.

Classification

Family Lacertidae

• Subfamily Gallotiinae
  • Genus Gallotia
    Genus Psammodromus

• Subfamily Lacertinae
  • Genus Acanthodactylus
    Genus Adolfus
    Genus Algyroides
    Genus Australolacerta
    Genus Darevskia
    Genus Eremias
    Genus Gastropholis
    Genus Holaspis
    Genus Heliobolus
    Genus Iberolacerta
    Genus Ichnotropis
    Genus Lacerta
    Genus Latastia
    Genus Meroles
    Genus Mesalina
    Genus Nucras
    Genus Ophisops
    Genus Pedioplanis
    Genus Philochortus
    Genus Podarcis
    Genus Poromera
    Genus Pseuderemias
    Genus Takydromus
    Genus Timon
    Genus Tropidosaura

External link

• EMBL Reptile Database page for Lacertidae