There are excellent climbers and can often be found several meters up on building to reach sunlight in which to bask. Some populations are also known to eat plant leaves and flower parts. The Italian Wall Lizard feeds on invertebrates, especially caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles. Males are sexually mature after 1 year, while females may require up to 2 years to reach maturity. Juveniles are approximately 1.5 inches (3cm) in length and resemble adults in form, coloration, and pattern. In Europe, some introduced populations are considered invasive, due to the threat of hybridization with sympatric congeners.įemales lay eggs in one or more clutches in June and July and juveniles hatch five to seven weeks later. They should be considered introduced, alien, and/or exotic, however, there is no evidence that they are invasive in Kansas. They have not been documented outside of heavily disturbed urban habitats in Kansas. They are active on warm days from February through November and eat a variety of invertebrate prey. They persist in urban areas where there are abundant places for them to hide. Open icons are questionable records Click on a marker to view details. (, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record) (, iNat Record) In the USA it has been successfully introduced in California, Connecticut, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York (Briggler 2015 and references therein), and Kansas (Topeka, Lawrence, and Hays). It has been introduced into the Mediterranean Islands, Iberian Peninsula, Greece, and Turkey to the UK, North Africa, and the USA.

The Italian Wall Lizard is native to the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, and the north Adriatic coast. It is known for living at high densities in human-dominated landscapes, particularly on walls (the source of its common name), and will often be seen basking on rock walls or wooden fences with nearby hiding spots. Generally, it prefers structurally complex habitats with lush grasses and shrubs. The Italian Wall Lizard is a habitat generalist and can be found in a wide variety of ecosystems. Reports of isolated populations of this lizard in Oxford await verification.

An April 2020 observation of an individual Italian Wall Lizard in Olathe is in the process of being properly documented. Kansas populations of this non-native species are well-established in Topeka, Hays, and Lawrence.

Lazarus lizard