Raw Birds: reptile

Monday, 11 April 2016

CRETAN WALL LIZARD (Podarcis cretensis) Moni Gouvernetou Monastery, Akrotiri Peninsula, Crete, Greece

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The Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) is endemic to the Greek island of Crete and its satellite islets. It is one of 14 species of reptile and amphibian (three frogs, one toad, three geckos, one skink, two lizards and four snakes) found there. It is confined to the western half of the island but can be locally common. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Appendix II of Bern and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. The prefer habitats include rocky outcrops, dry river beds and stone walls. A wide variety of arthropods, small invertebrates and snails are preyed upon. The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is the other species of lizard that occurs on the island.

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

Saturday, 23 January 2016

BALKAN GREEN LIZARD (Juvenile) (Lacerta trilineata) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece

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The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is in the family Lacertidae and is closely related to the Western Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata). It occurs in the southern half of Eastern Europe and parts of south western Asia. It tends to prefer vegetative type habitat. A wide variety of arthropods, small invertebrates and snails are preyed upon.

It is one of 14 species of amphibian/reptile (three frogs, one toad, three geckos, one skink, two lizards and four snakes) found on the Greek island of Crete. The endemic Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) is the other lizard that occurs on the island.
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List of amphibians/reptiles found on Crete

American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeianus)
Cretan Water Frog (Rana cretensis)
Common Tree Frog (Hyla arborea kretensis)
Green Toad (Bufo viridis)
Moorish Gecko (Tarentola mauritanica)
Kotschy’s Gecko (Mediodactylus kotschyi)
Turkish Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus)
Ocellated Skink (Chalcides occellatus)
Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata)
Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis)
Balkan Whip Snake (Hierophis gemonensis)
Cretan Cat Snake (Telescopus fallax pallidus)
Dice Snake (Natrix tesselata)
Leopard Snake (Zamenis situla)

Monday, 4 January 2016

CRETAN WALL LIZARD (Podarcis cretensis) Moni Ioannou Erimitou Gkouvernetou, Akrotiri, Crete, Greece

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The Cretan Wall Lizard (Podarcis cretensis) is endemic to the Greek island of Crete and its satellite islets. It is one of 14 species of amphibian/reptile (three frogs, one toad, three geckos, one skink, two lizards and four snakes) found there. It is confined to the western half of the island but can be locally common. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Appendix II of Bern and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive. The prefer habitats include rocky outcrops, dry river beds and stone walls. A wide variety of arthropods, small invertebrates and snails are preyed upon. The Balkan Green Lizard (Lacerta trilineata) is the other species of lizard that occurs less commonly on the island.

Text © www.rawbirds.com