Horvath's rock lizard

Description

The total length of this small, slender lizard species is a maximum of 18 cm, the snout-vent length is about 6.5 cm. In appearance, the species resembles the European wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). The collar closes smoothly to the back. The dorsal scales are relatively large, roundish to hexagonal, flat and not keeled. On the middle of the back they are arranged in distinct transverse rows, on the flanks more irregularly. The head, back and upper side of the tail are light brownish, gray-greenish to whitish-gray. In oblique light, the species may have a greenish iridescence. Beginning at the nostril, a broad, dark to reddish-brown longitudinal band extends over the temporal region and the upper half of the flanks, the upper edge of which is distinctly serrated. This band also extends over the sides of the tail, where it forms characteristic rhomboids strung together. Occasionally the pale dorsum is patternless, but usually it is covered with numerous small dark spots. Relatively often there is a narrow brown line on the middle of the back, but it may be incompletely developed. The throat region is whitish-gray, the ventral side straw to greenish-yellow colored. The underpart is unspotted, only on the outer row of the ventral shields there may be black or even rust-colored spots. Juveniles closely resemble adults in coloration and markings, but have conspicuously chip-green or greenish-gray tails.

Habitat

The Horvath's rock lizard is a mountain species found from 250 m above sea level upwards. The highest occurrence is at 2000 m altitude on Visoka Ponca (Slovenia). Preference is given to damp, cool altitudes of 800-1200 m, especially stony terrain, cliffs, karst rocks, stone bridges and road embankments. They usually stay directly on rock faces, near crevices, or in scree that is sometimes overgrown with moss, grasses, and small ferns. The animals also stay on ungrouted retaining walls and in their crevice system. At lower altitudes, the species is often associated with the European wall lizard. There the well climbing species prefers smooth and steep rock surfaces, on which it still finds sufficient hold as the lighter species in contrast to the heavier European wall lizard.

The text is a translation of an excerpt from Wikipedia (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kroatische_Gebirgseidechse). On wikipedia the text is available under a „Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike“ licence. Status: 26 May 2021