Bedriaga's rock lizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bedriaga's rock lizard |
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The Bedriaga's rock lizard (Archaeolacerta bedriagae) is a special type of lizard. It belongs to the Lacertidae family, which includes many common lizards. This lizard is the only species in its group, called Archaeolacerta. You can only find it on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Why is it Called Bedriaga's Rock Lizard?
This lizard is named after a famous scientist who studied reptiles and amphibians. His name was Jacques von Bedriaga, and he was from Russia. The scientific name bedriagae also honors him.
Where Does it Live?
Bedriaga's rock lizards like to live in places with lots of trees, like temperate forests. They also enjoy areas with shrubland and rocky spots. You might find them near rivers, in pastures, or even in gardens in the countryside.
Why This Lizard Needs Our Help
This lizard is considered a rare species. It is facing a problem called habitat loss. This means the natural places where it lives are disappearing. Because of this, the Bedriaga's rock lizard is protected by an international agreement called CITES. This helps make sure people do not harm or trade these lizards.
What Does it Look Like?
When it's not mating season, adult Bedriaga's rock lizards are brownish-grey. They have a dark, fine pattern on their backs that looks like a net. Female lizards are usually a bit browner than males.
During mating season, the male lizards change color! Their bellies and sides turn blue. They also get blue dots on their flanks. The net-like pattern on their backs might change into white dots. Young lizards, called juveniles, are easy to spot because they have bright azure blue tails.
Adult males can grow up to about 30 cm (12 in) long, including their tail. However, most of them are usually around 25 cm (9.8 in) long.
How Does it Live?
Bedriaga's rock lizards are excellent climbers. They can climb up vertical rocks, cliffs, walls, and even old ruins. You will often find them in mountainous areas, usually between 600 and 1,000 m (2,000 and 3,300 ft) above sea level. But they also live near the coast, where they like to sunbathe near small streams.
If a Bedriaga's rock lizard gets scared, it might jump into the water to escape. They are very good swimmers! Their diet mainly consists of insects and other small bugs.
One special thing about this lizard is how it hunts. It often jumps off the ground to catch flying insects. Most other lizards in the Lacertidae family cannot jump high to catch their prey like this one can.
Different Types of Bedriaga's Rock Lizards
There are three different types, or subspecies, of Bedriaga's rock lizards. Each one is slightly different and lives in a specific area:
- Archeolacerta bedriagae bedriagae (found in Corsica)
- Archeolacerta bedriagae paessleri (found in Sardinia)
- Archeolacerta bedriagae sardoa (also found in Sardinia)
See also
- List of reptiles of Italy
