Malta and Italy / Malta, Gozo, Comino, Filfola, Selmunett, General`s Rock, Linosa and Lampione. Introduced to the island of Lampedusa.

Species:

Podarcis filfolensis  (BEDRIAGA, 1876)

Subspecies (4):

Podarcis filfolensis filfolensis  (BEDRIAGA, 1876)

Podarcis filfolensis generalensis  (GULIA, 1914)

Podarcis filfolensis laurentiimuelleri  (FEJERVARY, 1924)

Podarcis filfolensis maltensis  MERTENS, 1921

Population (4):

Podarcis filfolensis Halfa Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Large Blue Lagoon Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Pigeon Rock 

Podarcis filfolensis Ta` Fra Ben 

Extinct subspecies (1):

Podarcis filfolensis kieselbachi  (FEJERVARY, 1924)

Synonyms:

Lacerta filfolensis  BEDRIAGA, 1876

Podarcis filfolensis  ENGELMANN et al, 1993

Common names:

Filfola Lizard (English)
Maltese Wall Lizard (English)
Malta-Mauereidechse (German)

Types:

kieselbachi: (= extinct subspecies) Syntypes: HNHM (Hung. Nat. Museum, Budapest). Possibly burned down in 1956.

laurentiimuelleri: Syntypes: HNHM (Hung. Nat. Museum, Budapest). Possibly burned down in 1956.

maltensis: Holotype: SMF 12489, male

Terra Typica:

filfolensis: Filfola Rock (= Filfla), a very small island south of Malta.

generalensis: Fungus Rock west of Gozo.

kieselbachi: (= extinct subspecies) Saint Paul`s island near Malta.

laurentiimuelleri: Linosa island.

maltensis: Island of Malta.


Relevant taxonomic literature:

  • Bedriaga, J. von (1876) -  Die Faraglione-Eidechse und die Entstehung der Farben bei den Eidechsen, eine Erwiderung an Herrn Prof. Dr. Th. Eimer. -  Heidelberg.  

  • Corti, C. & Lo Cascio, P. (2002) -  Podarcis filfolensis (BEDRIAGA, 1876) Maltese Wall Lizard (Italian name: lucertzola maltese). -  In: Corti, C. & P. Lo Cascio (eds.): The Lizards of Italy and Adjacent Areas. p. 84-87.  

  • Rodriguez, V. & Brown, R.P. & Terrasa, B. & Pérez-Mellado, V. & Picornell, A. & Castro, J.A. & Ramon, C. (2013) -  Genetic diversity and historical biogeography of the Maltese wall lizard, Podarcis filfolensis (Squamata: Lacertidae). -  Conservation Genetics, 15 (2): 295-304.    

  • Sciberras, J. & Sciberras, A. (2014) -  Behavior of lizards in the Maltese and Pelagian islands: a personal experience. -  L@CERTIDAE, 2014 [1]: 1-10.    

 
 
 
 

Podarcis filfolensis: 135  pictures (see subspecies level)

 
 
 

Podarcis filfolensis maltensis  © 2003 Arnold Sciberras