About Podarcis milensis (Bedriaga, 1882)
Taxonomy and Common Name
The Milos wall lizard, scientifically named Podarcis milensis (Bedriaga, 1882), is a small Mediterranean lizard species.
Size
Its maximum body length reaches 6.5 cm, and its tail is twice the length of its body.
Body Build
This lizard has a sturdy build and a broad head.
Male Dorsal Coloration
Males have a distinct appearance characteristic of the species: their back is usually brown, with a faint longitudinal line running down the middle.
Male Flank and Head Coloration
Their flanks, throat, and the sides of the head are black, marked with spots that can be white, yellow, blue, or light green.
Male Ventral Coloration
Their bellies often have black patterning.
Female Appearance
Typical females have white stripes along the edges of their back, and distinctive spots on the throat.
Distribution Range
The Milos wall lizard lives on a small number of Aegean islands in Greece, specifically Milos, Kimolos, Falkonera, Antimilos, and Parapola.
Habitat and Behavior
It prefers habitats in cultivated lands, where these lizards bask in the sun on banks and piles of stones, and hunt across open ground or among plants.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized for this species: Podarcis milensis milensis, Podarcis milensis gerakuniae, and Podarcis milensis schweizeri.
Conservation Threat
Habitat loss is causing the species to become increasingly rare.
