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The Guadarrama wall lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) is a medium-sized lizard endemic to the granite rocks of the Sierra de Guadarrama and other ranges in western-central Iberia. It is characterized by a flattened head, slender body, and coloration ranging from brown to bright green with dark spots. This species is insectivorous, laying 3-11 eggs and hibernating in winter to escape cold temperatures.
Description and characteristics
Appearance: Males often have bright, contrasting pale dorsolateral stripes, while females may have uninterrupted or fragmented pale stripes.
Head: A key distinguishing feature is its flattened head with an elongated snout.
Size: Adult males have an average snout-vent length of about 53.8 mm, with females averaging 51.6 mm.
Coloration: Color can range from brown to bright green with dark spots, and it may have a high proportion of black elements in its coloration.
Habitat and behavior
Habitat: It is a rupicolous species, meaning it lives among rocks and scree, particularly on granite substrates in its namesake range. It can also be found in other rocky areas, including artificial stone walls, and sometimes in sandy areas within forests.
Diet: It is primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of terrestrial invertebrates, but it may also eat fruit and berries.
Reproduction: It is an egg-laying species, typically laying 3-11 eggs once or twice per year, depending on the length of the summer.
Behavior: The Guadarrama wall lizard hibernates for several months to avoid winter cold. Some populations at higher altitudes have larger body size and lay more eggs, which is likely related to environmental factors like food and water availability.
Geographic distribution
Range: The species is found in the mountain ranges of the Sistema Central in Spain, from the Sierra del Alto Rey in the east to the Sierra de Guadarrama and Sierra de Gredos in the west.
Endemic to: It is endemic to this region, making its presence particularly important to the ecosystem of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
