Reptiles
Italian Wall Lizard
Podarcis siculus · also called ruin lizard
On a sun-baked stone wall in Tuscany, an Italian wall lizard darts along the top, its green-and-brown body vanishing into a crack at the slightest sound.
Overview
The Italian wall lizard, Podarcis siculus, is a Least Concern lizard of walls, gardens, vineyards, dunes, and rocky ground in Italy, Sicily, and the Balkan coast of the Adriatic, and of many introduced locations. Its adaptability and its rapid evolution on one Adriatic island make it a favourite subject of evolutionary biologists.
A lizard that changed its gut
Lizards released on a small Adriatic island in 1971 evolved a plant-digesting gut and a more plant-based diet in about 36 years, a striking example of fast evolution in the wild.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and expanding where introduced.
Italian Wall Lizard: common questions
How did one population of Italian wall lizards evolve so quickly?
A population moved to an island in the Adriatic in 1971 evolved a plant-digesting gut and a more herbivorous diet within about 36 years.
Where has the Italian wall lizard been introduced?
It has been introduced to many places outside its native range, including Spain, Turkey, and the United States.
Can the Italian wall lizard shed its tail?
Yes, it can shed its tail to escape a predator's grip and then regrow it.
Where is the Italian wall lizard native?
It is native to Italy, Sicily, and the Balkan coast of the Adriatic.