European Wall Lizard Identification and Ecology

The European Wall Lizard is a fascinating creature, and understanding how to identify and learn about its ecology is a great place to start.

This reptile has a distinctive appearance, with a brown or grayish-brown back and a pale underside, and can grow up to 20 centimeters in length.

Its scaly skin is a great adaptation for its environment, allowing it to blend in with rocks and tree trunks.

To identify a European Wall Lizard, look for its long, thin tail and the distinctive pattern of dark spots or stripes on its back.

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European wall lizards were introduced to Southern Vancouver Island from their native range of Europe in 1967.

They can be found in areas modified by humans, like backyards, railways, and roadsides.

These lizards spread slowly at a rate of 100 m/year without human assistance, but they can hitchhike on vehicles, shipments of produce and plants, or be released by people who keep them as pets.

European wall lizards are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and other invertebrates, as well as fruits.

They can reproduce up to three times per year during the spring and summer, and females will lay 3-11 eggs each time.

Females carefully hide their eggs under rocks or pieces of wood on the ground, where they incubate for up to a month before hatching.

European wall lizards can often be found basking on rocks or tree trunks in the full sun.

They typically hibernate from November to March, but may become active on sunny days.

The common wall lizard is a rock-loving creature that thrives in urban settings, where it can scurry between rocks, rubble, and debris.

It prefers humid or semi-humid habitats in the southern part of its range, but drier habitats are more common in the north.

This adaptable lizard can be found in a wide range of environments, from rocky outcrops to seaside towns in southern Britain, where it has even become somewhat famous in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.

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The common wall lizard is a versatile creature that thrives in rocky environments. It can be found scurrying between rock, rubble, debris, and buildings in urban settings.

In the southern part of its range, the lizard tends to occur in humid or semi-humid habitats. This is a notable difference from its behavior in the northern part of its range.

The common wall lizard can be found in a wide range of habitats across mainland Europe, excluding the northern and southernmost parts of the continent.

Its natural range extends to Turkey, where it thrives in various environments.

In addition to its native range, the species has been introduced to southern Britain, with one notable population in the seaside town of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight.

The population in Ventnor has gained some fame due to its unique status as an introduced species.

There's ongoing debate among scientists about whether the populations in Southern England represent the northern edge of their native range.

Unfortunately, human activities such as pet releases and trade have likely contributed to the population of common wall lizards in the Mediterranean.

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European wall lizards can be identified by their distinctive appearance, growing up to 23 cm long with brown backs covered in green splotches, and males having blue spots running down their sides.

Their bellies are cream coloured with brown spots that fade towards the back of the lizard and become darker towards the throat.

The six morphs of this lizard are primarily identifiable by colour, which can be distinguished with the naked eye.

However, colour analysis is often used to confirm the morph, as the source of colouration comes from different pigments within the lizard, such as carotenoids for yellow colouration.

Sexual dimorphism occurs within this species, with males having more colouration visible on their underbelly than females, and a study found a significant difference in digit ratios between male and female animals.

European wall lizards can grow up to 23 cm long, with females being slightly smaller than males. Their backs are brown with green splotches, and males have blue spots running down their sides.

Their bellies are cream coloured with brown spots that fade towards the back of the lizard and become darker towards the throat. The tail is twice as long as their body.

European wall lizards have longer limbs and toes compared to Northwestern alligator lizards. They may also have green or blue colouration, unlike Northwestern alligator lizards.

To identify a European wall lizard, look for its brown back with green splotches and blue spots on the sides of males. The belly is cream coloured with brown spots.

The Common Wall Lizard can be confused with the native Viviparous Lizard, but it is slightly larger with a longer tail to body ratio. It also has a more pointed snout than the native Viviparous Lizard.

The Common Wall Lizard can be seen running up vertical walls or rock faces, and basks on rock faces and stone habitats. It also catches small invertebrates on these surfaces.

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Polymorphism is a fascinating aspect of European wall lizards, with six distinct morphs that can be identified by their coloration.

These morphs can be distinguished with the naked eye, but digital photo and color analysis are often used to confirm their identity.

The source of coloration in these morphs comes from different pigments within the lizard, including carotenoids which produce yellow coloration and pteridines which produce red or orange coloration.

The expression of these pigments results in a range of colors and patterns, making each morph unique.

Not only do the morphs differ in coloration, but also in other aspects such as femoral gland secretion and immune competence.

Males and females also exhibit differences in body size and coloration, with males typically having more vibrant colors on their underbelly.

A study found that even the digit ratios of males and females differ, with males having larger 2D:4D and 2D:3D ratios on their forepaws.