Aegean Wall Lizard

Erhard's wall lizard, also known as the Aegean wall lizard, is a captivating reptile from the Lacertidae family, native to Southeast Europe. Its scientific name, Podarcis erhardii, honors Dr. D. Erhard, a German naturalist. These lizards are commonly found across the Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean islands, Albania, North Macedonia, southern Bulgaria, and parts of Greece.

Typically, these lizards measure around 7 cm in body length, with tails that are twice as long. Their coloration and patterns are variable, and female lizards often display stripes. Erhard's wall lizards flourish in dry or rocky habitats with low bushes, where they demonstrate excellent climbing skills.

During the spring, these lizards mate, and by early summer, they lay eggs. The young lizards usually hatch in September. A fascinating behavior of these lizards is their ability to camouflage themselves to avoid predators, particularly birds, by selecting backgrounds that match their coloration.

Although there are several subspecies of Podarcis erhardii, researchers generally acknowledge only four as valid.