Erhard's Wall Lizard

The Erhard's Wall Lizard (Podarcis erhardii) lives in the Balkan peninsula and the Aegean islands. In 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 doesn't occur in Milos and the surrounding islands, where it is replaced by Milos Wall Lizard.

The length of the lizard's body is about 7 cm; the tail is twice as long. The head is rather wide, and the skin is smooth. The colour and patterning of the species vary a lot. The main colour is typically grey or brown, sometimes green. Particularly females are 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, when longitudinal and transverse lines and spots mix. Belly and often throat are white, yellow, orange or red, in the Aegean islands also green, blue or grey. Belly is never spotty. Sometimes there are blue spots in the hind legs.

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.

Erhard's Wall Lizard eats arthropods, especially insects. It mates in spring, and lays eggs at the beginning of the summer. The young lizards hatch in September, then measuring 3 cm.

Sources

• E. N. Arnold, J. A. Burton (1978). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe
• Jiří Čihař (1994). Amphibians and reptiles. Wingston: Magna. ISBN 1–85422–788–2
• Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe