Podarcis hispanicus (Steindachner, 1870)

Common Name and Basic Dorsal Coloration

Adult Podarcis hispanicus, also called the Iberian wall lizard, have brown or grey-brown skin with darker spots or patterns on their back and flanks.

Size Variation Factor

Their overall size varies based on tail length.

Body Morphology and Standard Measurements

This is a fairly small, slender, somewhat flattened species, with an average snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 50–70 mm (2.0–2.8 in), and a tail twice as long as the body.

Color Diversity Range

Compared to other species, Podarcis hispanicus has limited color diversity.

Dorsal Pattern Morphs

Individuals may have stripes or reticulations; striped lizards are darker and have more black coloration than reticulated ones.

Dorsal Background Color

The background color is usually grey or brown, and occasionally greenish.

Typical Longitudinal Stripe Pattern

Most individuals have three narrow longitudinal stripes: one along the spine, and two more distinct stripes located on either side.

Stripe Pattern Variation

Sometimes these stripes break up into a series of streaks or marks.

Ventral Coloration

The throat is pale with scattered small spots, particularly near the sides, and the belly is usually whitish but may be pink, orange, red or buff.

Juvenile Tail Coloration

Young lizards may have blue tails.

Environmental Morphological Variation

The morphology of Podarcis hispanicus varies slightly with environment; lizards in cooler regions are typically heavier, larger, and have darker back coloration than lizards in warmer, humid environments.

General Diet

Podarcis hispanicus is insectivorous, feeding on insects, worms and other invertebrates.

Conspecific Feeding Behavior

Isolated cases of caudophagy (feeding on the tail of another conspecific individual) have been observed in the species.

Male Territorial Behavior

It is a territorial lacertid lizard; males display territorial tendencies including aggression within their resident territory, which contains their sexual partners.

Overall Species Distribution

Multiple different subspecies of the Iberian wall lizard are found in Spain and Portugal (where it is the only small lizard across most of the southern half of Iberia), southwestern France, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Insular Subspecies Distribution

One subspecies, Podarcis hispanicus atratus, inhabits the Columbretes Islands far off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.

Subspecies Genetic Interactions

Mitochondrial DNA studies have shown there is some gene flow between these subspecies, and they hybridise to some extent where their ranges meet.

Habitat and Altitude Range

It is a climbing lizard, found on rocks, cliffs, walls, parapets, road cuttings, and occasionally on tree trunks, at altitudes up to 2,500 m (8,200 ft).

Mating System Type

Podarcis hispanicus has a polygynandrous mating system, meaning individuals have multiple mating partners.

Male Reproductive Success Drivers

Male Podarcis hispanicus have greater reproductive success than females, due to their dominance and ability to perform territorial behaviors.

Dominant Male Mating Patterns

Dominant males have multiple copulating partners.

Courtship and Territorial Priority

There is little courtship prior to copulation in this species, so males are generally more territorial and defensive of their resources than of their mating partners.

Parental Care Status

It remains unknown how much parental care Podarcis hispanicus provides to its offspring.

Female Home Range Selection Cues

When searching for a home range, female lizards use chemosensory mechanisms to identify territories held by conspecific males.

Male Territory Signals for Females

The presence of a conspecific male signals to females that the territory has refuge, available resources, and low predation risk.

Reproductive Season Territory Choice

Females will also choose territories held by dominant conspecific males during the reproductive season for potential mating.

Female Mate Size Preference

While intersexual aggression is not often seen in this species, females may prefer smaller males to avoid sexual harassment from more dominant males.

Male Territory Composition

Males typically hold territories that contain multiple females.

Male Mating Preference for Resident Females

Males do not prefer unfamiliar females, because mating with an unfamiliar female requires them to leave their own territory.

Male Reproductive Success Strategy

Male Podarcis hispanicus maximize their reproductive success by preferentially mating with females already in their territory.

Intruder Male Territory Cost Assessment

For an intruder male, entering another male's territory to court a female has high costs and is usually not preferable.

Intruder Male Competition Exception

However, a stronger, larger intruder male may still enter an occupied territory to challenge the resident dominant male.

Intruder Male Female Preference

In general, intruder males also prefer and value familiar females over unfamiliar ones.

Intruder Competition Cost-Benefit Ratio

For most intruders, the cost of competing outweighs the benefit of gaining a single mating.

Reproductive Mode

Podarcis hispanicus is oviparous.