26-9-2019 SEGOVIA, ESPANA - GUADARRAMA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis guadarramae)

The Guadarrama Wall Lizard (Podarcis guadarramae) is a rocky-habitat specialist in Spain's Sistema Central mountains, known for its flattened heads, variable dark patterns (spots/stripes), and reddish/pink bellies, feeding on invertebrates, and can even climb trees, but its key feature is its strong link to granite rocks, distinguishing it from other Podarcis species. 

Key Characteristics & Habitat:

Endemic to Sierra de Guadarrama: Found in high-altitude, rocky areas like granite screes in Spain's Central System.

Appearance: Medium-sized, brown to green with dark spots/stripes; males often have broad dark bands; belly is reddish, pink, or orange.

Head Shape: Distinctive flattened head and elongated snout compared to other Iberian wall lizards. 

Behavior & Diet:

Insectivorous: Eats terrestrial invertebrates like beetles, ants, and flies.

Arboreal Tendencies: Can climb trees and shrubs, though less so than some other lizards, with reasons for this behavior still being studied. 

Distinguishing Features:

Rock Specialist: Strongly tied to granite substrates, differentiating it from other Podarcis lizards.

Pattern Variation: Males often show dark stripes, while P. lusitanicus (a related species) typically has dots or net patterns. 

30-7-2019 BOTANICO ATLANTICO GIJON, ASTURIAS - GUADARRAMA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis guadarramae)

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. 

25-7-2019 AVILA, CASTILLE Y LEON - GUADARRAMA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis guadarramae)

Podarcis guadarramae is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Spain and Portugal. 

The Guadarrama Wall Lizard is specialized on the granite rock substrates of western-central Iberia. No granite rocks - no Podarcis guadarramae! It mainly occurs in the mountain ranges of the Sistema Central - from Sierra del Alto Rey (Guadalajara) in the east to Sierra de Guadarrama, Sierra de Gredos and Peña de Francia. For distribution range see map at Podarcis hispanicus.

Podarcis guadarramae differs from the neighbouring Iberian Podarcis species by its flattened head and elongated snout.