Wall lizard

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iWall Lizard

Wall lizard in a German vineyard

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Sauria
Family:	Lacertidae
Genus:	Podarcis
Species:	P. muralis

Binomial name

Podarcis muralis
Laurenti, 1768

The Wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) is a species of lizard with a large distribution in Europe. It can grow to about 20 cm in total length.

[edit] Wall lizards in North America

Podarcis muralis has been introduced in the United States of America and is increasingly spreading the distribution area in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati, Ohio; it is commonly observed living in limestone outcroppings, rock walls, and rubble along the Ohio River basin and the surrounding seven hills.

It is referred to locally in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area as the "Lazarus Lizard", as it was introduced to the area in the 1950s by George Rau, a boy who was a member of the family that owned the Lazarus department store chain (now absorbed into Macy's). After he returned from a family vacation to Northern Italy, he released about 10 of the reptiles near his Cincinnati home. This prolific lizard has reproduced exponentially and has established itself so well in Southwest Ohio that it is now considered a native (although introduced) species by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is protected under State law (it is illegal to capture or possess this animal without a proper license; see external links below).

[edit] References

Böhme et al. (2005). Podarcis muralis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 31 October 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is "Lower risk (least concern)"