Dalmatian Wall Lizard

Adriatic wall lizard ( Podarcis melisellensis )

The Adriatic wall lizard ( Podarcis melisellensis ), also called karst runner, is a species of lizard of the genus wall lizard, which is native in the Adriatic area.

Features

The Adriatic wall lizard is a rather small lizard ( Height: five to 6.5 centimeters, the tail is twice the length ). The head is relatively short.

In the male the back on green, olive or brown ground is mottled, often the back is also colored. It has a blue shoulder patch and a red or yellow belly. The female is considerably longitudinally striped, it shows a broad green central band on the back with two bright side stripes. This central band often shows a mottled brown center line. The female has a white belly.

Distribution and habitat

The range of the species extends along the Adriatic coast from north-eastern Italy to Croatia, Montenegro to the north of Albania and closes the upstream Croatian islands also. She lives in the dry flat and hilly land at an altitude up to 1300 meters, especially in karst areas with few trees and some bushes. Currently, 20 subspecies are described.