Mosor rock lizard

A Mosoreidechse from the Orjen

The Mosoreidechse or Mosor rock lizard ( Dinarolacerta mosorensis, Syn: Archaeolacerta mosorensis, Lacerta mosorensis ) is a medium sized and moderately flattened lizard with short -sharpened head, which is common in the mountainous areas in southern Croatia, in Herzegovina and Montenegro.

Features

The lizard reaches a head-body length of about six to seven centimeters. The tail can again achieve double the length, so that the animal is a total of 15 to 22 inches long. She is very slender and flattened with a very pointed head and long, thin tail. The top of the head, trunk and tail is very variable stained with a basic color from olive green to chocolate brown with black spots or a dark marbling. The underside is orange to blue and spotless.

Distribution and habitat

This rock lizard inhabits humid areas in the mountains 650-1500 meters above sea level and is fragmented in isolated occurrences in southern Croatia, Montenegro and Herzegovina ago. They settled karst mountains as the Orjen on the Bay of Kotor or the Durmitor mountains, where they light deciduous forests and juniper bushes preferred habitat near water.

Lifestyle and behavior

The Mosoreidechse is relatively shy but curious. She is very agile and jumps effortlessly over karst columns, the so-called cart. The animals can also be observed in smaller groups and find themselves getting to unvegetated rocks. From their winter she comes out in April. In July, she lays four to six eggs. Of all the lizards Mosoreidechse has the shortest incubation period of only three weeks.

Threats and conservation

The Mosoreidechse is considered one of the rarest lizards in Europe due to their spatially very limited distribution area and the very special habitat. In the IUCN as threatened ( "vulnerable "). Like all European reptiles it is registered of the Bern Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and animals and their habitats ) in Annex II and thus enjoys within the European Union strict protection. The animals may be killed or captured.