25-7-2019 AVILA, CASTILLE Y LEON - GREEN IBERIAN LIZARD (Podarcis virescens)

8-7-2018 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - GREEN IBERIAN LIZARD (Podarcis virescens)

Podarcis virescens, also known by its common name as Geniez's wall lizard, is a lizard species of the Lacertidae family. Podarcis virescens is commonly found in the Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal. The lizard's name is derived from Latin due to its color turning from a usual brown color to green during the spring. Podarcis virescens are a moderate sized lizard and robust in build. Colors vary during seasons and range between individuals from white, brown, green, and black. Podarcis virescens have been found in villages and other human-populated areas in Spain and Portugal at elevations of around 840 meters.

Podarcis virescens is a lizard species of a moderate size, although it can be significantly larger than other lizards in the Podarcis genus such as Podarcis carbonelli. Podarcis virescens vary significantly in color with individuals ranging from white to brown or black. Individuals, particularly males, may change color to green during the spring which then disappears in the summer. The underside of the lizard is more yellow in color than other parts of its body. Podarcis virescens are robust in shape and not flattened compared to other lizard species. Males and females are of around the same size between 40 mm and 63 mm.

Podarcis virescens is considered a robust lizard due to its build. Podarcis lizards vary greatly in color and build so Podarcis virescens does not completely share appearance traits with other species of the same genus. This was likely caused by increased diversification in the history of Podarcis lizards, especially during the time period preceding and around the Zanclean flood.

Podarcis virescens have been used in studies on lizard body temperatures and to determine accurate methods of reading lizard body temperatures using non-invasive techniques. Overall, Podarcis virescens were found to have a lower body temperature than other two lizard species which were Lacerta schreiberi and Timon lepidus. This may be due to the smaller size of the Podarcis virescens lizard compared to the other two species. Since Podarcis virescens are smaller than the other lizards studied, they also vary more in temperature when switching between heating and cooling conditions. Due to the availability of the Podarcis virescens lizard, it is possible to use them for similar studies.