IDENTIFICATION  

A lizard with a slender and delicate appearance. Very small size (up to 16 cm of total head-tail length). The head is flattened and usually does not really stand out from the rest of the body. The body, in conjunction with the head, has a crushed appearance. The skin is smooth (with fine and delicate scales) with greenish-grey or olive tones and black reticulated spots. It has a dark longitudinal band on each side, bordered on the top by another white band or a series of white dots. The belly is white or pale orange, with some black spots. Young specimens have a pattern very similar to adults, but with a strikingly green tail.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE (HABITAT)? 

It is a rock species. It is present in a wide variety of habitats, provided they have rocky substrates. If there is a shortage of rocks, it can use tree trunks to climb. It is also present in urbanized areas with low density or garden areas, especially in urbanizations and coastal cities.

HOW DOES IT LIVE?

It is a reptile with a daytime activity. It is active all year long thanks to its self temperature regulatory system. It can even be active in high altitude and snowfall areas during sunny days. It actively uses hard surfaces, such as rocks and stone walls. It flees at the slightest sign of danger, taking refuge in cracks in the rocks. Its diet is based on capturing small insects, mainly spiders, ants and arthropods larvae.

HOW DOES IT REPRODUCE?

The mating period normally occurs from March to April. At that time the males acquire a skin tone (its mating colour) much brighter and more striking. Its colour intensification favours mating. Females can make about 2 or 3 eggs-laying. The offspring hatch from July to August.  

WHERE CAN WE SEE IT IN MALAGA AND ON THE STAGES OF THE GREAT PATH?

It is a well distributed species, frequent and abundant in Malaga. It is associated mainly to the mountain areas and coastal urban areas. It is lacking in the Antequera countryside, in the Málaga mountains and in the Axrquía agricultural lands. In the Great Path, we can find it on stages 1 to 11, 13 and 20 to 35.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION - THREAT (INVENTORY)

This lizard is part of the Andalusian Wildlife Species under Special Protection List. There is no concrete data on its threat factors, but its habitat alteration and the agricultural intensification probably affects it.

CURIOUS FACTS  

The Andalusian wall lizard, like other lizards and geckos, has a very effective defence mechanism against predators: they are able to detach themselves from the tail. When a lizard is attacked by a predator it can choose to release its tail. The appendix stays on the site, moving spasmodically. That gets the predator's attention and lets the lizard get safe out of sight from the predator. The animal regenerates the tail, although that replacement appendix does not usually have the same shape.

SIMILAR SPECIES (IT CAN BE MISTAKEN WITH...) 

It probably is the most difficult lizard to mistake with other species because it is usually very small, its skin is smoother and its appearance flattened compared with other types. It is the most urban of all lizards. These characters are enough to distinguish it from the long-tailed and ashen lizards. The red-tailed lizard also distinguishes itself by using very different habitats, although the definitive feature is that it presents an occipital plate which is absent in the red-backed lizard. Determining this character requires close and detailed observation of the animal.