Podarcis tauricus

Taurian lizard ( Podarcis tauricus )

The Taurian lizard ( Podarcis tauricus synonym: Podarcis taurica ) belongs to the genus of wall lizards ( Podarcis ) and lives in South Eastern Europe.

Features

The lizard reaches a head-body length of about six to eight inches, the tail may again reach more than twice the length, so that the animal is a total of 20 to 24 inches long. It is built tough and only slightly flattened with a short head. The basic color is a mottling of light and dark brown to black tones, the center back is colored green and pull on the flanks two white stripes from head to tail. Pattern lots specimens are rare. The underside of the Lizard is whitish to orange-red and spotless.

Distribution and habitat

The Taurian lizard lives in the Southern Balkans, north to Hungary. It inhabits the flat and hilly country up to 1800 meters above sea level. As habitat they preferred not to dry grass and cultivated land, vegetated sand dunes or roadsides and walls. It is a ground-dwelling, barely climbing lizard.

System

The following sub- types the Tauride lizard can be distinguished:

• Podarcis tauricus ionica who lives in Albania and western Greece
• Podarcis tauricus thasopulae who inhabited the island Thasopulos
• Podarcis tauricus tauricus that lives in the residual area

Very similar is the living on the Skyros archipelago Skyros wall lizard ( Podarcis gaigeae ) that spreads in a blue form and is considered a subspecies of the Tauride or the Cycladic wall lizard in some cases.

Threats and conservation

The Taurian lizard is classified due to their large distribution area and the wide range of habitats in the IUCN as not at risk ( "Least Concern" ). Like all European reptiles it is registered to 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.