Crimean rock lizard
| Crimean rock lizard | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crimean rock lizard ( Darevskia lindholmi ) |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Darevskia Lindholmi | ||||||||||||
| ( Lantz & Cyrén , 1936) |
The Crimean rock lizard ( Darevskia lindholmi ) belongs within the family of real lizards to the genus of the Caucasian rock lizards , a spin-off from the old collective genus Lacerta .
Systematics
Lantz & Cyrén described the species in 1936 under the name Lacerta saxicola lindholmi as a subspecies of the very similar species Lacerta saxicola , which is now also assigned to the genus Darevskia . There are no known subspecies , so the species is monotypical .
description
The back is marked with irregular dark spots, the flanks with a dark mesh pattern. There are individual blue spots along the flanks, which can become bright in males during the mating season. The color of the ventral side is pale yellow to ocher. Males reach a head trunk length between 4.8 and 7.1 cm, on average 6.2 cm. The upper side of the body is colored grass green or whitish gray. Females reach a similar size with a head body length of 4.9 to 7.3 cm (average 6.1 cm). Their upper side is colored from dark sand to gray-olive. The scales are smooth or very weakly keeled.
behavior
Darevskia lindholmi is a diurnal, nimble climber, the activity varies depending on the season between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., with the highest activity in sunshine around 12 p.m. / 1 p.m. The Crimean rock lizard retreats to winter quarters in the mountainous north from September and in the south between November and December. In the region of the southern bank of the Crimea, winter dormancy ends at the beginning of March, on mountainous northern slopes towards the beginning of April. The mating season extends from mid-May to early June. The females lay clutches between the end of June and the beginning of July with a circumference of 2 to 5 eggs, the hatchlings are hatched between August and September.
nutrition
The Crimean rock lizard captured primarily insects , especially Diptera , locusts , butterflies , beetles , earwigs and Hymenoptera such as ants and pill bugs and various arachnids , more rarely, snails and earthworms . In addition, parts of the plant are occasionally eaten.
distribution
The German name of the species indicates the distribution on the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea ( Ukraine ); the Crimean rock lizard occurs only in its southern, mountainous part. The distribution area extends from Sevastopol in the west east to Karadag, possibly also to Cape Kiik-Atlam. To the north, the species can be detected as far as Simferopol , Bahchisarai and Vishennoe. Areas from 0 to 1000 m above sea level are populated. The habitat is represented by sunlit rocks, ruins, walls, bridges and the like. In forests, the Crimean rock lizard can often be found climbing tree trunks. Although the range of this species is relatively small, it is not threatened due to its high population density.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Darevskia lindholmi in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ Darevskia saxicola in The Reptile Database ; Retrieved April 5, 2012.
literature
- Dieter Glandt : Pocket dictionary of amphibians and reptiles in Europe. All types from the Canary Islands to the Urals. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2010, ISBN 978-3-494-01470-8 .
Web links
- Darevskia lindholmi in The Reptile Database
- Photo by Darevskia Lindholmi : lacerta.de
