Lacerta Bilineata
Lézard Des Murailles
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
Common Wall Lizard | Podarcis Muralis | Adult Male | Ticino | Switzerland
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
ABOUT THIS PHOTO
So after many years of procrastinating, I've finally treated myself to a new camera :-) It's a Sony DSC RX10 Mark IV, and so far I'm very happy with the results I'm getting.
This beautiful male common wall lizard (podarcis muralis) is now the first photo I'll show here on Flickr that I shot with my new cam, but many will follow (I'm currently photographing anything from specks of dust to the moon, and my village thinks I've gone completely mad, since they see me running around with my tripod all day or standing on the road just below my garden in front of some underbrush for hours, happily ignoring the cars who nearly run me over or almost crash into the trees trying to avoid me).
This gorgeous lizard currently greets me every day from the same spot, namely from the top of this rock which he fiercely defends against all rivals and only shares with females who sometimes bask in the sun next to him. Whenever I get close with my camera he gives me this defiant look, as if he were saying: "You want my rock? I'd like to see you try!"
ABOUT THE SPECIES
From Wikipedia (slightly abbreviated by me): The podarcis muralis (common wall lizard) is a species of lizard with a large distribution in Europe and well-established introduced populations in North America where it is also called the European wall lizard. It can grow to about 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length.
Description:
The common wall lizard is a small, thin lizard whose small scales are highly variable in color and pattern. Its coloration is generally brownish or greyish, and may occasionally be tinged with green. In some individuals, the row of spots along their backs may form a line, while others may have a reticulated pattern with dark spots on the side and scattered white spots that can be blue in the shoulder region.
The tail is brown, grey or rust in color, and may also have light bars on the sides. The belly region has six rows of larger rectangular scales that are generally reddish, pink, or orangish. Common wall lizards may also have dark markings on the throat. This lizard has six distinct morphological forms which are identified by the coloration of its throat and underbelly. Three of these are pure morphs consisting only of solid colours on their scales: white, red (orange) or yellow, and three other morphs are distinguished by a combination of colors: white-yellow, white-red and yellow-red.
Ecology:
These lizards prefer rocky environments, including urban settings, where they can scurry between rock, rubble, debris and buildings. In the southern part of their range they tend to occur in humid or semi-humid habitats, compared to drier habitats in the north.
Distribution:
The natural range of the species spans much of the mainland Europe except from the north and very south and extends to Turkey. It occurs as introduced populations in southern Britain where one such population in the seaside town of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight has become somewhat famous, and also in North America. There has been some scientific debate as to whether the populations in Southern England represent the northern edge of their native range.
Podarcis muralis has been introduced in the United States and is spreading throughout the Cincinnati metropolitan area. It is commonly observed living in limestone outcrops, rock walls, and rubble along the Ohio River basin (it is now considered a naturalized species by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is protected under state law). The lizard is also present in Los Angeles and San Diego counties in California and may exist elsewhere in California. The species was also introduced to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Lézard Des Murailles
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
Common Wall Lizard | Podarcis Muralis | Adult Male | Ticino | Switzerland
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
ABOUT THIS PHOTO
So after many years of procrastinating, I've finally treated myself to a new camera :-) It's a Sony DSC RX10 Mark IV, and so far I'm very happy with the results I'm getting.
This beautiful male common wall lizard (podarcis muralis) is now the first photo I'll show here on Flickr that I shot with my new cam, but many will follow (I'm currently photographing anything from specks of dust to the moon, and my village thinks I've gone completely mad, since they see me running around with my tripod all day or standing on the road just below my garden in front of some underbrush for hours, happily ignoring the cars who nearly run me over or almost crash into the trees trying to avoid me).
This gorgeous lizard currently greets me every day from the same spot, namely from the top of this rock which he fiercely defends against all rivals and only shares with females who sometimes bask in the sun next to him. Whenever I get close with my camera he gives me this defiant look, as if he were saying: "You want my rock? I'd like to see you try!"
ABOUT THE SPECIES
From Wikipedia (slightly abbreviated by me): The podarcis muralis (common wall lizard) is a species of lizard with a large distribution in Europe and well-established introduced populations in North America where it is also called the European wall lizard. It can grow to about 20 cm (7.9 in) in total length.
Description:
The common wall lizard is a small, thin lizard whose small scales are highly variable in color and pattern. Its coloration is generally brownish or greyish, and may occasionally be tinged with green. In some individuals, the row of spots along their backs may form a line, while others may have a reticulated pattern with dark spots on the side and scattered white spots that can be blue in the shoulder region.
The tail is brown, grey or rust in color, and may also have light bars on the sides. The belly region has six rows of larger rectangular scales that are generally reddish, pink, or orangish. Common wall lizards may also have dark markings on the throat. This lizard has six distinct morphological forms which are identified by the coloration of its throat and underbelly. Three of these are pure morphs consisting only of solid colours on their scales: white, red (orange) or yellow, and three other morphs are distinguished by a combination of colors: white-yellow, white-red and yellow-red.
Ecology:
These lizards prefer rocky environments, including urban settings, where they can scurry between rock, rubble, debris and buildings. In the southern part of their range they tend to occur in humid or semi-humid habitats, compared to drier habitats in the north.
Distribution:
The natural range of the species spans much of the mainland Europe except from the north and very south and extends to Turkey. It occurs as introduced populations in southern Britain where one such population in the seaside town of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight has become somewhat famous, and also in North America. There has been some scientific debate as to whether the populations in Southern England represent the northern edge of their native range.
Podarcis muralis has been introduced in the United States and is spreading throughout the Cincinnati metropolitan area. It is commonly observed living in limestone outcrops, rock walls, and rubble along the Ohio River basin (it is now considered a naturalized species by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is protected under state law). The lizard is also present in Los Angeles and San Diego counties in California and may exist elsewhere in California. The species was also introduced to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.