Biology:Podarcis

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Short description: Genus of lizards

Podarcis
Temporal range: 2.58–0 Ma
Pleistocene – Recent[1]
Lezard des murailles (Podarcis muralis) (2682438753).jpg
Common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Podarcis
Wagler, 1830[2][3][4]

Podarcis is a genus of lizards in the family Lacertidae. Its members look very similar to lizards of the genus Lacerta, to which they were considered to belong until the 1970s. While similar externally and ecologically, Podarcis form a distinct group differing from Lacerta by the construction of the skull and the hemipenis, and by the processes of the caudal vertebrae.[5] They are commonly known as wall lizards. They are native to Europe and northern Africa, and most species are restricted to the Mediterranean region. Wall lizards diversified and hybridized during the Messinian salinity crisis.[6] The Italian wall lizard and the common wall lizard have been introduced to North America, where they have become intermediate hosts for some Acuariidae larvae.[7]

Species and subspecies

The genus Podarcis contains the following 27 species which are recognized as being valid.[3] A few of the many recognized subspecies are also listed here.

Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Podarcis.

References

  1. Bover, Pere (2014). "The Cova des Pas de Vallgornera (Llucmajor, Mallorca): a singular deposit bearing an exceptional well preserved Early Pleistocene vertebrate fauna". International Journal of Speleology 43 (2): 175–192. doi:10.5038/1827-806X.43.2.6. https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1792&context=ijs. 
  2. "Podarcis ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Genus Podarcis at The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  4. "Podarcis ". Dahms Tierleben. www.dahmstierleben.de.
  5. Wendler, Günter Diesener ; Josef Reichholf. Hrsg. von Gunter Steinbach. Ill. von Fritz (1996). Lurche und Kriechtiere (Neue, bearb. Sonderausg. ed.). München: Mosaik-Verl.. ISBN 3-576-10697-9. 
  6. Schuster, Ruth (2021-05-19). "Why Wall Lizards Are the Most Successful Reptile in the Mediterranean". Haaretz (Haaretz English Edition). https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium-why-wall-lizards-are-the-most-successful-reptile-in-the-mediterranean-1.9822549. Retrieved 2021-05-20. 
  7. Burke, Russell L.; Goldberg, Stephen R.; Bursey, Charles R.; Perkins, Susan L.; Andreadis, Paul T. (2007). "Depauperate Parasite Faunas in Introduced Populations of Podarcis (Squamata: Lacertidae) Lizards in North America". Journal of Herpetology 41 (4): 755–757. doi:10.1670/07-023.1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40060472. Retrieved 2021-05-20. 

Further reading

  • Wagler J (1830). Natürliches System der AMPHIBIEN, mit vorangehender Classification der SÄUGTHIERE und VÖGEL. Ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Zoologie. Munich, Stuttgart and Tübingen: J.G. Cotta. vi + 354 pp. + one plate. (Podarcis, new genus, p. 155). (in German and Latin).

Wikidata ☰ Q221659 entry