''Lacerta'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

lizard Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most oceanic island chains. The group is paraphyletic since it excludes the snakes and Amphisbaenia altho ...

s of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Lacertidae The Lacertidae are the family of the wall lizards, true lizards, or sometimes simply lacertas, which are native to Afro-Eurasia. It is a diverse family with at least 300 species in 39 genera. They represent the dominant group of reptiles found i ...

Taxonomy

''Lacerta'' was a fairly diverse genus containing around 40 species, until it was "split" into nine

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

in 2007 by

Arnold Arnold may refer to: People * Arnold (given name), a masculine given name * Arnold (surname), a German and English surname Places Australia * Arnold, Victoria, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria Canada * Arnold, Nova Scotia U ...

, Arribas & Carranza.

Fossil record

The earliest known members of the genus ''Lacerta'' are known from early

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

epoch fossils indistinguishable in anatomy from the modern green lizards such as '' Lacerta viridis''.

Species

The genus ''Lacerta'' contains the following species. *'' Lacerta agilis'' – sand lizard *'' Lacerta bilineata'' – western green lizard *'' Lacerta citrovittata'' – Tinos green lizard *'' Lacerta diplochondrodes'' – Rhodos green lizard *'' Lacerta media'' *'' Lacerta pamphylica'' *''

Lacerta schreiberi The Iberian emerald lizard (''Lacerta schreiberi''), also known commonly as Schreiber's green lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. Etymology The specific name, ''schreiber ...

'' – Iberian emerald lizard *''

Lacerta strigata ''Lacerta strigata'', the Caucasus emerald lizard, five-streaked lizard, or Caspian green lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially t ...

'' –

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historica ...

emerald lizard *''

Lacerta trilineata The Balkan green lizard (''Lacerta trilineata'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is the most widespread of the Balkans lizard species. It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro ...

'' -

Balkan The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

green lizard, Balkan emerald lizard *'' Lacerta viridis'' –

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

an green lizard

Some species formerly in ''Lacerta''

Arranged alphabetically by specific name: *'' Anatololacerta anatolica'' – Anatolian rock lizard *'' Atlantolacerta andreanskyi'' – Atlas dwarf lizard, Andreansky's lizard *'' Iberolacerta aranica'' – Aran rock lizard *'' Iberolacerta aurelioi'' – Aurelio's rock lizard *'' Archaeolacerta bedriagae'' – Bedriaga's rock lizard *'' Iberolacerta bonnali'' – Pyrenean rock lizard *'' Apathya cappadocica'' – Anatolian lizard *'' Darevskia chlorogaster'' – Green-bellied lizard *'' Phoenicolacerta cyanisparsa'' *''

Omanosaura cyanura ''Omanosaura cyanura'', the blue-tailed lizard or blue-tailed Oman lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Oman and the United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات ا ...

'' – blue-tailed Oman lizard *''

Anatololacerta danfordi Danford's lizard (''Anatololacerta danfordi'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is native to Greece and Turkey. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. Etymology The specific name, ''danfordi'', i ...

'' – Danford's lizard *''

Darevskia defilippii ''Darevskia defilippii'', also known Common name, commonly as the Alborz lizard or the Elburs lizard, is a species of lizard in the Family (biology), family Lacertidae. The species is Endemism, endemic to Iran. Etymology The Specific name (zool ...

'' – Elburs lizard *'' Darevskia dryada'' *'' Teira dugesii'' – Madeiran wall lizard *'' Hellenolacerta graeca'' – Greek rock lizard *(''Lacerta herseyi'' = '' Zootoca vivipara'') *'' Iberolacerta horvathi'' – Horvath's rock lizard *'' Omanosaura jayakari'' – Jayakar's lizard *'' Phoenicolacerta kulzeri'' *'' Phoenicolacerta laevis'' – Lebanon lizard *''

Timon lepidus The ocellated lizard or jewelled lizard (''Timon lepidus'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae (wall lizards). The species is endemic to southwestern Europe. Common names Additional common names for ''T. lepidus'' include eyed liz ...

'' – ocellated lizard, foot lizard *'' Iberolacerta monticola'' – Iberian rock lizard *''

Dinarolacerta mosorensis The Mosor rock lizard (''Dinarolacerta mosorensis'') is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. It is found in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro. Its natural habitats are boreal forests, temperate forests, temperate sh ...

'' - Mosor rock lizard *'' Podarcis muralis'' – common wall lizard *'' Anatololacerta oertzeni'' * ''Dalmatolacerta oxycephala'' – sharp-snouted rock lizard *'' Parvilacerta parva'' – dwarf lizard *'' Darevskia steineri'' *'' Zootoca vivipara'' – viviparous lizard *''

Iranolacerta zagrosica ''Iranolacerta zagrosica'', also known commonly as the Zagros Mountains lacerta, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is endemic to Iran. Geographic range ''I. zagrosica'' occurs in the central Zagros Mountains in Esf ...

Taxonomy

Fossil record

Species

Some species formerly in ''Lacerta''

References

Further reading