Lilford's Wall Lizard
Encyclopedia
The Lilford's Wall Lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) is a species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 of lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...

 in the Lacertidae
Lacertidae
Lacertidae is the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. The group includes the genus Lacerta, which contains some of the most commonly seen lizard species in Europe...

 family.
It is endemic to the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...

, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

.

Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...

s are temperate Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, and rocky shores. Originally distributed throughout the Balearics, the introduction of alien species which started with the Romans has confined the species to the uninhabited islets around the major islands, almost each of it having developed a local subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

.

It is threatened by habitat loss.

It is named after its discoverer Thomas Powys, 4th Baron Lilford a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 aristocrat
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...

 and ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...

.

Subespecies

According to ENGELMANN et al. 1993 there are 27 subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

:
  • Podarcis lilfordi lilfordi (Günther, 1874). Found in the Aire islet, off the southeastern coast of Minorca
    Minorca
    Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....

    .
  • Podarcis lilfordi addayae (Eisentraut, 1928).
  • Podarcis lilfordi balearica (Bedriaga, 1879).
  • Podarcis lilfordi brauni (Müller, 1927). Found in Colom islet, off Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi carbonerae Perez Mellado & Salvador, 1988. Own to Carbonera islet, off Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi codrellensis Perez Mellado & Salvador, 1988. Own to Binicondrell islet, off the southern coast of Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi colomi (Salvador, 1980). Found in Colomer islet, off northeast Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi conejerae (Müller, 1927).
  • Podarcis lilfordi espongicola (Salvador, 1979)
  • Podarcis lilfordi estelicola (Salvador, 1979)
  • Podarcis lilfordi fahrae (Müller, 1927)
  • Podarcis lilfordi fenni (Eisentraut, 1928). Own to Sanitja islet, off northern Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi gigliolii (Bedriaga, 1879). In Dragonera
    Dragonera
    Sa Dragonera is an uninhabited islet in the Balearic Islands, Spain, located just off the west coast of Majorca. It is currently a natural park.-Geography:...

     islet, off north of Majorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi hartmanni (Wettstein, 1937)
  • Podarcis lilfordi hospitalis
  • Podarcis lilfordi imperialensis (Salvador, 1979)
  • Podarcis lilfordi isletasi
  • Podarcis lilfordi jordansi (Müller, 1927)
  • Podarcis lilfordi kuligae (Müller, 1927)
  • Podarcis lilfordi nigerrima (Salvador, 1979)
  • Podarcis lilfordi planae (Müller, 1927)
  • Podarcis lilfordi probae (Salvador, 1979)
  • Podarcis lilfordi porrosicola Pérez Mellado & Salvador, 1988. Own to the Porros islet, north of Minorca.
  • Podarcis lilfordi rodriquezi (Müller, 1927). Own to the Rey islet, in Mahon
    Mahon
    Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...

    's harbour (Minorca).
  • Podarcis lilfordi sargantanae (Eisentraut, 1928). Found in the islets located by the north coast of Majorca (Sargantana, Ravells, Bledes and Tusqueta).
  • Podarcis lilfordi toronis (Hartmann, 1953)
  • Podarcis lilfordi xapaticola (Salvador, 1979)
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