| Podarcis tauricus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Podarcis |
| Species: | P. tauricus |
| Binomial name | |
| Podarcis tauricus (Pallas, 1814) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Podarcis tauricus, theBalkan wall lizard, is a common lizard in the familyLacertidae native tosoutheastern Europe andAsia 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.
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 smallgreen 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]
South-westUkraine,CrimeaPeninsula, eastern and southernRomania, south-eastHungary,North Macedonia,Bulgaria, mainlandGreece, theIonian Islands,Thassos, westernTurkey (Thrace and north westernAnatolia),Albania and southernMoldova.[2] south-eastern Czech Republic
Podarcis tauricus is a largely terrestrial species found in open areas of steppe, grassland, meadows, field edges, olive groves, traditionally cultivated land, rural gardens, sparsely vegetated sandy dunes and sometimes in open scrub. .[1]
Females lay two clutches, of between two and ten eggs each, in a year.
Two subspecies are recognised[2]
The Balkan wall lizard is listed by theInternational 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.[4]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)