# Italian Wall Lizard (*Podarcis siculus*) The Italian Wall Lizard is a small, colorful lizard that loves to sunbathe on walls. It has a long tail and a friendly appearance. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas and rocky places. - **Also known as:** Sicilian Wall Lizard ![Italian Wall Lizard](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424777/objects/5615.jpg) ## Appearance The Italian Wall Lizard has a slender body, often bright green or brown with intricate dark spots and patterns. Males sometimes feature vivid blue patches on their throats and flanks, making them visually distinct. Its tail is long and whip-like, often twice the length of its body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Lacertilia - **Family:** Lacertidae - **Genus:** Podarcis ## Interesting facts - Despite their name, these lizards are often found far from walls, exploring gardens and rocky areas! - Italian Wall Lizards were accidentally introduced to the USA and now thrive in places like Cincinnati! - Some male lizards flash bright blue spots on their sides to warn off rivals and attract females! - They use their tongues to 'taste' the air, helping them find prey and sense their surroundings! ## Special abilities - **Regenerative Tail Escape:** Italian Wall Lizard can detach its tail to distract predators, allowing it to escape harm and grow a new one later. - **Sun-Powered Sprint:** Italian Wall Lizard has dark skin pigments that help it quickly absorb sunlight to warm its body for bursts of speed. - **Wall Walker:** Italian Wall Lizard has specialized scales and claws on its feet that help it grip and climb rough, vertical surfaces. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-25 cm - **Weight:** 0.005-0.02 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-7 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 4-12 - **Incubation:** 40-70 days ## Diet & Feeding These quick lizards mostly eat small insects and other tiny creatures they can catch. - **Primary Foods:** crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, flies, ants - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [domestic cat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/domestic-cat) (*Felis catus*) — Common predator in urban and suburban environments. - **Eaten by:** [grass snake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grass-snake) (*Natrix natrix*) — Native snake that preys on lizards in their habitat. - **Hunts:** red wood ant (*Formica rufa*) — Often preys on various ant species for food. - **Eaten by:** common kestrel (*Falco tinnunculus*) — A bird of prey that hunts small reptiles. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) - [Reptiles & Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles-and-amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Look but don’t touch. Keep a safe distance and wash hands after exploring. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Italian Wall Lizard? Compare toes, scales, head shape, crests and tail proportions. Many lizards can drop and regrow their tails, so a short tail isn't always a species trait. Lizard Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Italian Wall Lizard? 15-25 cm ### How much does Italian Wall Lizard weigh? 0.005-0.02 kg ### How long does Italian Wall Lizard live? 5-7 years ### How fast can Italian Wall Lizard move? 25 km/h ### What does Italian Wall Lizard eat? These quick lizards mostly eat small insects and other tiny creatures they can catch. ### Where is Italian Wall Lizard usually found? Urban areas and rocky places. ### How does Italian Wall Lizard hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Queens Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/queens-botanical-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden - [Starlight Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/starlight-park) — New York, US · Park - [Bronx Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bronx-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Topeka Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/topeka-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Zoo de Cerza](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-cerza) — Normandy, FR · Zoo [View all places to see Italian Wall Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/italian-wall-lizard) ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Italian Wall Lizard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/italian-wall-lizard)