Madeiran wall lizard

The Madeiran wall lizard (Teira dugesii) is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is the only species in the genus Teira. The species is endemic to the Madeira Archipelago, Portugal. In the Azores, this lizard has become naturalized after involuntary introduction by the shipping trade between the two archipelagos.

Madeiran wall lizard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Lacertidae
Genus: Teira
Gray, 1838
Species:
T. dugesii
Binomial name
Teira dugesii
Madeiran wall lizards fighting for food in the Desertas Islands

Etymology

The specific name, dugesii, is in honor of French physician and naturalist Antoine Louis Dugès.[2]

Habitat

The Madeiran wall lizard's natural habitats are temperate forests and shrublands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rocky areas, rocky shores, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and urban areas.

Taxonomy

Four subspecies are recognized:[3]

  • Teira dugesii dugesii (Milne-edwards, 1829)
  • Teira dugesii jogeri (Bischoff, Osenegg & Mayer, 1989); named after German herpetologist Ulrich Joger[4]
  • Teira dugesii mauli (Mertens, 1938)
  • Teira dugesii selvagensis (Bischoff, Osenegg & Mayer, 1989); named after the Selvagens Islands

Description

The Madeiran wall lizard grows to a snout-to-vent length of about 8 cm (3.1 in) with a tail about 1.7 times the length of its body. The colouring is variable and tends to match the colour of the animal's surroundings, being some shade of brown or grey with occasionally a greenish tinge. Most animals are finely flecked with darker markings. The underparts are white or cream, sometimes with dark spots, with some males having orange or red underparts and blue throats, but these bright colours may fade if the animal is disturbed.[5]

Behaviour

The Madeiran wall lizard is very common on the island of Madeira where it is the only small lizard, ranging from sea coasts to altitudes of 1,850 metres (6,070 ft). It is usually found in rocky places or among scrub and may climb into trees. It is also found in gardens and on the walls of buildings. The tail is easily shed and the stump regenerates slowly.[5]

Diet

The Madeiran wall lizard feeds on small invertebrates such as ants and also eats some vegetable matter such as bananas.[5]

Reproduction

Adult females of T. dugesii lay two to three clutches of eggs in a year with the juveniles being about 3 cm (1.2 in) when they hatch.[5]

Ecoepidemiology

T. dugesii is one of many species that may be parasitized by ticks and can act as a secondary or alternative reservoir for Lyme disease or other tick-borne zoonoses.[6] Large mammals warm-blooded like deer and boar seem to have become the first epidemiologic tank (and/or host) for European ticks.[7]

References
  1. Sá-Sousa, Paulo; Sindaco, Roberto (2009). "Teira dugesii ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2009: e.T61521A121720531.
  2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lacerta dugesii, p. 76).
  3. "Oldstyle id: 7d33bdd95b453151f9ad92386a79cec2". Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands.
  4. Beolens, Bo (2011). The eponym dictionary of reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-1421401355.
  5. Arnold, E. Nicholas; Ovenden, Denys W. (2002). Field Guide: Reptiles & Amphibians of Britain & Europe. London: Collins & Co. pp. 154–155. ISBN 9780002199643.
  6. De Sousa R, Lopes de Carvalho I, Santos AS, Bernardes C, Milhano N, Jesus J, Menezes D, Nuncio MS (2012). "Role of the lizard Teira dugesii as a potential host for Ixodes ricinus tick-borne pathogens". Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78 (10): 3767–3769.
  7. Wodecka B, Rymaszewska A, Skotarczak B (2014). 'Host and pathogen DNA identification in blood meals of nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks from forest parks and rural forests of Poland'. Experimental and Applied Acarology 62 (4): 543-555. (résumé).
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