Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish Gecko)
Europe's most widespread gecko, the Moorish Gecko is common around the coast of the Mediterranean, extending far inland in Spain and Portugal.
It can be recognised by its spiny appearance, which comes from tubercules on its scales, and is pattern of dark bands on its back and tail - the fairly similar Turkish Gecko has a blotched pattern.
It can be recognised by its spiny appearance, which comes from tubercules on its scales, and is pattern of dark bands on its back and tail - the fairly similar Turkish Gecko has a blotched pattern.
Psammodromus algirus (Large Psammodromus)
Tolibes cork forest, Picos de Europa
The strongly-keeled scales of this lizard make it easy to identify. Despite its common name, it is not a particularly large lizard, although it is much larger than the Small Psammodromus (P.hispancus).
The Large Psammodromus can be found all over the Iberian Peninsula, as well as a small region of Mediterranean France. It favours well-vegetated areas such as thickets and lowland forests.
The Large Psammodromus can be found all over the Iberian Peninsula, as well as a small region of Mediterranean France. It favours well-vegetated areas such as thickets and lowland forests.
Timon lepidus (Ocellated Lizard)
Sierra de Guara,
Much the largest lizard in western Europe, growing to over half a metre long, this impressive species is notoriously shy and alert - they are more often heard crashing away through undergrowth than seen. I had to stalk this juvenile for some time before I could get a photo!
They are a stocky species, with a rather plain greyish-green to brown colouration with patterns of black speckles which make a peppered pattern on the body (just visible in this photo). The common name comes from the attractive blue spots which adorn the sides of adult males.
The Ocellated Lizard is found across Iberia and along the Mediterranean coastal regions of France and north-western Italy.
They are a stocky species, with a rather plain greyish-green to brown colouration with patterns of black speckles which make a peppered pattern on the body (just visible in this photo). The common name comes from the attractive blue spots which adorn the sides of adult males.
The Ocellated Lizard is found across Iberia and along the Mediterranean coastal regions of France and north-western Italy.
Lacerta bilineata (Green Lizard)
Izki Parque Natural, Alava
Aptly-named, this is a very green lizard, and one that is common across most of the southern half of Europe. It was formerly regarded as one species, L.viridis, but has been split into eastern (viridis) and western segregates now.
The Green Lizard is a species of sunny, well-vegetated habitats, such as scrub, woodland margins (as photographed here) and overgrown cultivated areas.
Despite their brash appearance, Green Lizards are timid creatures and not easily approached. This one took some stalking, and even then I wasn't able to get a photo clear of vegetation.
The Green Lizard is a species of sunny, well-vegetated habitats, such as scrub, woodland margins (as photographed here) and overgrown cultivated areas.
Despite their brash appearance, Green Lizards are timid creatures and not easily approached. This one took some stalking, and even then I wasn't able to get a photo clear of vegetation.
Podarcis muralis (Common Wall Lizard)
The most commonly-seen lizard in northern Spain, this attractive and charismatic species is a joy to watch, and far more approachable than the lizards described in the previous entries. Individuals bask on exposed rock, often in family groups where their interactions can provide endless entertainment on a sunny day.
The Wall Lizard is primarily a species of middle latitudes in Europe, being absent from the Mediterranean south and the chilly north. An isolated, introduced population thrives on the Isle of Portland in England, one of the mildest parts of the country. In Spain, P.muralis is almost entirely restricted to the Cantabrian mountains and the Pyrenees.
The Wall Lizard is primarily a species of middle latitudes in Europe, being absent from the Mediterranean south and the chilly north. An isolated, introduced population thrives on the Isle of Portland in England, one of the mildest parts of the country. In Spain, P.muralis is almost entirely restricted to the Cantabrian mountains and the Pyrenees.
Podarcis hispanicus (Iberian Wall Lizard)
Almost endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, P.hispanicus is a small, brown lizard with a flattened appearance. Although variable in patterning, it is basically a striped species and lacks the primarily blotched pattern of P.muralis (see above).
Like P.muralis, this lizard is a species of rocky habitats (this photo is perhaps atypical being in a woodland!), but is happier in drier places than its more widespread cousin. It can be found over almost the entire Iberian Peninsula as well as portion of southern France.
Like P.muralis, this lizard is a species of rocky habitats (this photo is perhaps atypical being in a woodland!), but is happier in drier places than its more widespread cousin. It can be found over almost the entire Iberian Peninsula as well as portion of southern France.
Iberolacerta galani (Leon Rock Lizard)
female
Formerly regarded as a subspecies of I.monticola, the Leon Rock Lizard was published as a distinct species in 2006. It is restricted to north-western Spain, where it is a common species in the Cordillera Cantabrica at moderate to higher elevations.
The high number of blue spots (ocelli) on the shoulders is characteristic in males of this species. The unspotted throat and abundant green colouration of males distinguishes from Podarcis muralis.
The high number of blue spots (ocelli) on the shoulders is characteristic in males of this species. The unspotted throat and abundant green colouration of males distinguishes from Podarcis muralis.
Lacerta bonnali (Pyrenean Rock Lizard)
Images coming soon!
Three closely-related Lacerta species are endemic to the Pyrenees, with highly-localised distributions. The most 'widespread' of these is L.bonnali, which I was lucky enough to see in Ordesa National Park.
It is a species of high altitudes, where it lives in scree and rocky terrain where there are abundant cracks and fissures to provide hiding and resting places. It is a rather plain-looking lizard, bit easy to recognise, as no other species occur at such high altitude in its range. The ubiquitous Common Wall Lizards peter out before the elevations of P.bonnali are reached.
It is a species of high altitudes, where it lives in scree and rocky terrain where there are abundant cracks and fissures to provide hiding and resting places. It is a rather plain-looking lizard, bit easy to recognise, as no other species occur at such high altitude in its range. The ubiquitous Common Wall Lizards peter out before the elevations of P.bonnali are reached.