Giant green lizard

Giant green lizard
	Giant green lizard ( Lacerta trilineata )
Systematics
Superordinate :	Scale lizards (Lepidosauria)
Order :	Scale reptiles (Squamata)
Family :	Real lizards (Lacertidae)
Subfamily :	Lacertinae
Genre :	Lacerta
Type :	Giant green lizard
Scientific name
	Lacerta trilineata
	Bedriaga , 1886

The giant green lizard ( Lacerta trilineata ) is one of eight species of the green lizard complex ( Lacerta s. Str.), Which also includes the eastern green lizard , the western green lizard and the sand lizard .

features

This species becomes over 50 centimeters long; of this, up to about 16 centimeters make up the head-trunk length, while the tail is at least twice as long. Adults are colored green and have fine black speckles. The young and half-grown animals have a brown basic color and three yellowish-white longitudinal stripes on the back (hence the scientific species name trilineata ).

habitat

Lineage of the Lacerta trilineata group

Habitat of the giant emerald lizard

The giant green lizard populates the entire Balkans from Slovenia to Greece (including Crete ) and the west coast of the Black Sea . She prefers vegetation-rich terrain with many hiding spots, for example herbaceous karst areas .

behavior

Juvenile giant green lizard in Crete

This lizard is very shy and agile; Because of their long flight distance, for example, it is difficult to photograph them. If caught, it can bite painfully. Like all lizards, it can shed its tail, which is then regenerated.

All kinds of insects and spiders serve as food, and small vertebrates and smaller conspecifics are also preyed on from time to time.

Hazard and protection

Habitat of the giant green lizard on the island of Krk

In some Balkan countries, the giant green lizard is one of the most common types of lizard; nevertheless it is legally protected in most countries. The import into Germany is prohibited.

Protection status

Habitats Directive : Annex 4 (strictly protected)
Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV): particularly protected

Subspecies

There are about nine subspecies of the giant green lizard:

Lacerta trilineata trilineata,
Lacerta trilineata cariensis
Lacerta trilineata citrovittata
Lacerta trilineata diplochondrodes
Lacerta trilineata dobrogica
Lacerta trilineata galatiensis
Lacerta trilineata hansschweizeri
Lacerta trilineata major
Lacerta trilineata polylepidota

Web links

Commons : Giant Green Lizard ( Lacerta trilineata ) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Photos of the giant green lizard on www.herp.it
Lacerta trilineata in The Reptile Database
Lacerta trilineata inthe IUCN 2013 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: Wolfgang Böhme, Petros Lymberakis, Rastko Ajtic, Varol Tok, Ismail H. Ugurtas, Murat Sevinç, Pierre-André Crochet, Idriz Haxhiu, Hans Konrad Nettmann, Bogoljub Sterijovski, Yusuf Kumlutaş, Nazan Üzüm, 2008. January 2014.

Photos of the giant green lizard on www.blenderwahl.com