Podarcis bocagei (Lopez-Seoane, 1885)

Common and Scientific Name

Bocage's wall lizard, scientifically named Podarcis bocagei, reaches a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 7 cm (2.8 in), with a tail that is twice the length of its snout-to-vent measurement.

Sexual Size Dimorphism

Males of this species are larger than females.

Body Shape

It is a sturdy, somewhat flattened lizard that resembles Carbonell's wall lizard (Podarcis carbonelli).

Dorsal Coloration

Its dorsal surface is usually grey or yellowish-brown, though males sometimes have green dorsal colouring, and it is heavily marked with rows of dark speckles.

Flank Coloration

Its flanks may be brownish or yellow.

Underpart Coloration

The underparts are white, yellow, pink, or orange; unlike Carbonell's wall lizard, this species does not have the small blue spots along the edge of the belly that are often present in P. carbonelli.

Geographic Range

Bocage's wall lizard is distributed in northern Portugal and northwestern Spain, ranging as far south as the River Douro.

Habitat Types

Its typical habitats include open deciduous woodland, scrubland, coastal sand dunes, and cultivated areas, and it can also be found within villages.

Altitudinal Range

It occurs at altitudes from sea level up to 1,900 m (6,200 ft).

Reproductive Mode

This species is oviparous.

Clutch Characteristics

Sexually mature females produce 2 to 4 clutches of eggs each year, and clutch size ranges from 2 to 9 eggs.